Adaptation strategies to climate change in inland valleys in Dano, Burkina Faso

The agriculture in Sub Saharan Africa at many locations is under-performing and lags behind the other continents in terms of yields as well as productivity. The recent progression in the produced quantities is mainly due to an increase in the croplands, which has major effects on the environment. In West Africa, climate variability is one of the causes of low yields as most of the cropping systems are rainfed and the region has one of the most variable precipitation pattern in the World. Climate change, on the other hand, brings more uncertainties to the weather and can be considered as a threat, knowing the severe problem of food insecurity in the continent. The strategies towards a more performing and resilient agriculture comprise the use of inland valleys for intensive agriculture. The use of irrigation and water control infrastructures inside inland valleys is assessed in this study to apprehend the potential for agriculture inside inland valleys, under current and probable future climatic conditions. Four inland valleys located within the Dano basin have been investigated, in the South West of Burkina Faso, two with reservoirs and irrigated schemes, one with contour bunds, and the last with drainage canals. The four schemes have been equipped to monitor the different water fluxes such as the runoff from the upstream catchment, the water level inside the reservoirs, the shallow groundwater levels with piezometers in the uplands and the bottomlands, and the drainage. The performance inside the four schemes revealed important losses by infiltration and evaporation inside the reservoir-based schemes and high drainage ratio for the others. The water quality showed very low mineral contents for nitrates, nitrites, orthophosphates, and potassium, due to the low fertilizer input, for both the surface water and the groundwater. The climate records from the city of Dano has been examined to understand the precipitation pattern and the future climate trends with statistical tools. In one out of six and half years, the monthly rainfalls decline by around 80% in June and October corresponding to the beginning and the end of the rainy season, while the seasonal sum from June to October is reduced by 45%. The anomalies detected on eleven models under the scenarios RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 revealed high uncertainties on the precipitation amounts, while the rainy days and the temperatures are expected to respectively decrease from -4% to -35% and increase from +1.3° to +6.8° C. The effects of selected climate scenarios have been evaluated for rainfed rice in the four schemes with a crop growth model. The AquaCrop model was applied to simulate the effect of the expected increase in temperature and CO2-level and decrease in precipitation on crop yield and biomass. Results show a rise of yield and water productivity due to higher CO2-level, whereas rising temperature is lowering these indicators. The effects of water stress are variable and influenced by the soil types and the shallow groundwater levels. The adaptation strategies to climate variability and change are possible only with better storage systems and with improved management. The comparison of the four valleys shows more profits for the reservoir-based schemes in terms of outputs and level of organization of the farmers for the maintenance of the infrastructures, despite the losses by evaporation and infiltration. The other schemes, although benefitting from low investment for their construction, and disposing of flexibility in their use and expansion, lack the required control over the water inflows and outflows, and fail to be productive. The use of shallow groundwater has not been assessed in this study in terms of potential for supplementing the cropping systems in the future and may switch the attention on their exploitation for agriculture in the future

Individualisation du suivi post-thérapeutique des patients traités du cancer en fonction des facteurs pronostiques et du type de rechute

Les questions de l’organisation de la surveillance des patients ayant reçu un traitement pour un cancer sont toujours ouvertes. Les pratiques courantes sont principalement fondées sur des recommandations d’experts. Peu de preuves scientifiques sont posées pour les valider. Cette thèse propose une méthodologie pour organiser une surveillance post-thérapeutique des patients traités du cancer. Cette surveillance sera individualisée en tenant compte des caractéristiques du patient. Elle sera aussi flexible en s’adaptant aux caractéristiques propres de la maladie, de sa sévérité et des différents types de récidives attendues. Une première partie permet de déterminer la durée optimale de suivi du patient. Les fonctions d’incidences cumulées des différents types de récidives sont modélisées par une approche directe de modélisation de risques compétitifs. La deuxième propose une méthodologie pour fixer les dates de visite de façon optimale. Cette méthode passe par la modélisation des dates d’apparition des événements par une approche multi-états en utilisant une hypothèse de Markov homogène. Enfin, un algorithme est proposé pour évaluer un programme de surveillance post-thérapeutique. Cet algorithme permet de simuler de façon numérique les transitions dynamiques par une technique de simulation des événements discrets. L’ensemble des modèles se basent sur l’histoire naturelle de la maladie.There still are open questions about the organization of the surveillance of patients who received treatment for cancer. Current practices are mainly based on expert recommendations. Little scientific evidence are found to confirm them. This thesis proposes a methodology to organize the post-therapeutic follow-up of patients treated for cancer. This follow-up will be individualized according to the patient’s characteristics. It will also be flexible and adapt to the characteristics of the disease, its severity and the expected types of recurrences. The first part considers the determination of the patient’s follow-up period. The cumulative incidence functions of the different recurrence types are modeled by a direct competing risks modeling approach. The second part proposes a methodology to determine the optimal visit dates. This approach involves modeling the dates of recurrence by a multi-state approach using a homogeneous Markov assumption. Finally, an algorithm is proposed to evaluate a post-therapeutic surveillance program. This algorithm simulates dynamic states transitions by a discrete events simulation approach. All models are based on the natural history of the disease

Individualisation du suivi post-thérapeutique des patients traités du cancer en fonction des facteurs pronostiques et du type de rechute

Les questions de l’organisation de la surveillance des patients ayant reçu un traitement pour un cancer sont toujours ouvertes. Les pratiques courantes sont principalement fondées sur des recommandations d’experts. Peu de preuves scientifiques sont posées pour les valider. Cette thèse propose une méthodologie pour organiser une surveillance post-thérapeutique des patients traités du cancer. Cette surveillance sera individualisée en tenant compte des caractéristiques du patient. Elle sera aussi flexible en s’adaptant aux caractéristiques propres de la maladie, de sa sévérité et des différents types de récidives attendues. Une première partie permet de déterminer la durée optimale de suivi du patient. Les fonctions d’incidences cumulées des différents types de récidives sont modélisées par une approche directe de modélisation de risques compétitifs. La deuxième propose une méthodologie pour fixer les dates de visite de façon optimale. Cette méthode passe par la modélisation des dates d’apparition des événements par une approche multi-états en utilisant une hypothèse de Markov homogène. Enfin, un algorithme est proposé pour évaluer un programme de surveillance post-thérapeutique. Cet algorithme permet de simuler de façon numérique les transitions dynamiques par une technique de simulation des événements discrets. L’ensemble des modèles se basent sur l’histoire naturelle de la maladie.There still are open questions about the organization of the surveillance of patients who received treatment for cancer. Current practices are mainly based on expert recommendations. Little scientific evidence are found to confirm them. This thesis proposes a methodology to organize the post-therapeutic follow-up of patients treated for cancer. This follow-up will be individualized according to the patient’s characteristics. It will also be flexible and adapt to the characteristics of the disease, its severity and the expected types of recurrences. The first part considers the determination of the patient’s follow-up period. The cumulative incidence functions of the different recurrence types are modeled by a direct competing risks modeling approach. The second part proposes a methodology to determine the optimal visit dates. This approach involves modeling the dates of recurrence by a multi-state approach using a homogeneous Markov assumption. Finally, an algorithm is proposed to evaluate a post-therapeutic surveillance program. This algorithm simulates dynamic states transitions by a discrete events simulation approach. All models are based on the natural history of the disease

Espaces et mobilité lignagère dans le sud-ouest du Burkina: l’exemple du Dagara

L’histoire du peuplement demeure au Burkina Faso un sujet de préoccupation pour les historiens. Les mouvements migratoires et la mise en place des différents groupes ethniques restent très peu précis même pour les populations les mieux connues (Moose, Peul, Gulmanceba). Les limites des données historiques conduisent à l’utilisation de légendes pour expliquer les origines des formations sociales. La légende de la princesse Yennega fonde l’histoire des Moose; celle de Diaba Lompo, l’ancêtre eponyme descendu du ciel avec son cheval à Lompotangou constitue la base des dynasties du pays gulmance selon encore la légende. La séparation entre les Sana et leurs cousins Bisana serait intervenue pour une tête de chien. L’histoire du peuplement des populations à organisation lignagère comme le groupe dagara est encore plus difficile à établir. Il faut en effet, collecter les données sur les mouvements migratoires de chaque lignage pour espérer cerner les origines des familles respectives

Degradation of water resources in rural Burkina Faso: drivers, local perceptions and solutions.

Burkina Faso reformed its water management institutions and adopted integrated water resources management (IWRM) for more than two decades, yet the country still suffers from weak institutions and ineffective implementation of water management reforms. The key institutional question is: “How can IWRM reforms be adapted to increase effectiveness and sustainability of water management, and improve livelihoods of rural populations through increased participation of local stakeholders?” A key practical issue related to this bigger institutional question is to understand the barriers to adoption of good land and water management measures by riparian farmers and other land/water users, and the mechanisms to induce behavioral change among these users. Knowledge gaps exist in understanding the local perceptions and preferences of alternative management measures, and the incentive mechanisms to induce behavioral change. The aim of this study, which was part of a 3-year project entitled ‘Participatory planning for more inclusive and sustainable water management in rural Burkina Faso’, was to understand the perceptions, preferences and willingness of farmers and other land/water users to adopt environmentally friendly land and water management measures. The study also examined potential mechanisms that could induce riparian economic actors to adopt such measures

Diversification et intégration inter-specifique dans les élevages ruraux au Burkina Faso

Diversification and inter-species integration in rural livestock system in Burkina Faso. The purpose of this study was to determine the level of existing relation between several animal species bred in extensive livestock systems. Data were collected about breeding importance of cattle, sheep, goat and fowl in four villages of the central region of Burkina Faso (Namanegma, Villy-Moukouan, Luili-Nobere and Yambasse). These villages are located in the Soudano-Sahelian agroclimatic zone. Partial correlation and bivariate ordinary least square methods are computed. The results show that livestock practices are related to diversification and species integration strategies of rural households. That is, many households (16.64/) breed four species together, while 6.14/ of households possess one species. Three and two species breeders account for 14.95 and 14.36/ of households respectively. Poultry represents a driving activity in extensive livestock system. From a social welfare standpoint, fowl activity accounts for 49.42/ of households employment. Cattle breeding is the highest stage in this system and represents a kind ofsocioeconomic prestige for the breeder. The four types of livestock are correlated at different levels. Thus, high correlation degrees are noted between poultry and goat (p > 0.50). On the other hand, there is a weak relation between the remote livestock levels (e.g. poultry and cattle, p < 0.50). These results suggest that incentive policies for livestock must take into account breeders strategies. To promote poultry production can create track down effect on the entire livestock system

Les CLE, institutions locales pertinentes mais peu fonctionnelles de gestion de l’eau

Un travail de recherche mené en 2017 avec l’accompagnement de l’International Water Management Institute par Letisia Somda, étudiante du Master Agrinovia à l’Université Joseph Ki-Zerbo à Ouagadougou, s’est intéressé au fonctionnement d’une institution locale de gestion de l’eau, le Comité Local de l’Eau (CLE). Les CLE sont conçus comme les maillons de base du cadre institutionnel de la Gestion Intégrée des Ressources en Eau au Burkina Faso. Le CLE Bougouriba 7 ou CLE BGB7, créé en 2010, a été relancé en 2015 mais connaissait toujours d’importantes difficultés de fonctionnement en 2017. L’étude a permis de faire le diagnostic de la gestion de l’eau dans cet espace. Elle a identifié les obstacles à la bonne gestion et proposé des solutions pour une meilleure gouvernance de l’ea

Resources endowment, income distribution and needs for techno-logies among peri-urban smallholders in the Gambia

One reason of the modest adoption of improved technologies by smallholder farmers is that the majority of them are resource constrained. Structural constraints at the households level and institutional weaknesses have often prevented most of the farmers from joining the economic development process. This study analyses the production resources in relation with the income and the needs for improved technologies of the peri-urban farm households in The Gambia. The results are compelling. The majority of the production resources are owned by small fraction of the smallholders. As a consequence, their income is higher and mostly derived from agriculture, while the poor-resource households rely on a relatively wide variety of activities to compensate their low income. The poor-resource households have also the greatest need for improved technologies, although many would also need some kind of subsidies to uptake them. There is a clear need for more agricultural research, expertise and policy-making to transcend the traditional global understanding of smallholder farmers, and consider their heterogeneity in terms of production resources