ABSTRACT
Agricultural productivity in West Africa is low and cropping systems are hard to sustain. Farmers generally make little use of improved seeds or mechanization, and rely on organic matter to improve the fertility of their soils. Soil and water conservation techniques (SWCTs) can help secure agricultural output in unpredictable climates, and have been promoted in northwestern Burkina Faso for several decades. Rock bunds, filter walls, zaï, half-moons and agroforestry are now widespread. This paper describes the agroecological conditions in Burkina Faso and discusses the agroforestry and SWC technologies most widely applied in the country. SWCTs have contributed to improvements on the ground, helping secure livelihoods and reduce rural poverty and vulnerability to drought and famine.
