Alleviating Biomass Scarcity in Semi-Arid Burkina Faso : Strategies and Entry Points for Contrasted Farm Systems

CONTEXTThe semi-arid zone of Burkina Faso is characterized by strong climate variability and declining soil fertility associated with low biomass production.OBJECTIVEThe main objective of this study was to contribute to alleviating biomass scarcity in semi-arid Burkina Faso while considering farm diversity.METHODSFarm diversity was captured with a statistical typology complemented by a participatory typology with farmers. Biomass management was described for the different farm types based on survey information obtained from 228 households across two villages. Fuzzy Cognitive Mapping (FCM) was conducted to represent biomass production strategies of each farm type. After a sensitivity analysis which revealed model robustness, scenario analysis was performed with the FCMs to explore farm type-specific options for alleviating biomass scarcity. Two contrasting scenarios were built based on observations and insights from the survey and focus group discussions with farmers and included (1) deliberate exchange of crop residue with manure, and (2) a subsidies policy allowing a reduction in prices of 30% for farm inputs coupled with increased off-farm revenue for the subsistence-oriented farms.RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONSThe statistical typology distinguished four farm types, distinguishing between subsistence or market-oriented farms and crop or livestock-oriented production. The participatory typology confirmed these four main types, even though other criteria of distinction were given by farmers. Different farm types used contrasted strategies in biomass production and management which was mainly driven by the total cultivated area and the herd size. The farm type with the largest herd and smallest cultivated land was the only one to rely on grain inflow from outside the farm to meet its household food requirement. The inflow of crop residue was also largest for this farm type. In contrast, crop residue outflow was mainly observed for the subsistence-oriented crop farm type, which had the smallest fodder needs. Results of the FCM simulations correctly represented the biomass production and management patterns of each farm type. The scenario analysis suggested that biomass exchange had a negligible effect on farm performance but that the subsidy and income diversification scenario positively impacted crop and livestock production, especially for subsistence-oriented types.SIGNIFICANCEOur study pointed out that FCM is a useful tool to not only describe system dynamics but also to reveal entry points for improvement through sensitivity and scenario analysis, and that capturing farm diversity is essential in the smallholder context as strategies and entry points differ between farm types