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

Les usagers de l’eau face à la dégradation des ressources : entre prise de conscience et volonté d’agir

Cette étude menée en 2018 dans trois régions du Burkina Faso avec l’appui de l’International Water Management Institute IWMI visait à comprendre les pratiques agricoles et de gestion des ressources naturelles, les choix ou préférences des usagers de ces ressources ainsi que les mécanismes pouvant les inciter à adopter des mesures de gestion plus respectueuses de l’environnement. Selon ses résultats, beaucoup sont conscients de la raréfaction et de la dégradation de la qualité des ressources et en identifient des causes. Les usagers interrogés se sont dit prêts à adopter des mesures de gestion, y compris à travers une contribution financière

Methodological guide: Community participatory inventory and prioritization of climate-smart crop-livestock agroforestry technologies / practices

This guide addresses the issue of identifying priority interventions for communities in the face of climate change. The manual is about participatory approach of inventorizing and prioritizing climate-smart crop-livestock-agroforestry and social technologies / practices. The guide provides a step by step guidance on how project/extension workers can work with communities and other development stakeholders in the target sites to identify practices that can help local communities to better adapt to climate variability in production. The guide was developed within the framework of a project “Building resilient agro-sylvo-pastoral systems in West Africa through participatory action research” (BRAS-PAR)” which is one ofthe flagship 2 projects funded by the CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS). The flagship 2 of CCAFS, which is about climate-smart technologies and practices, addresses the challenge of how to transition to a climate-smart agriculture (CSA) at a large scale for enabling agricultural systems to be transformed and reoriented to support food security under the new realities of climate change. Led by ICRAF-WCA/Sahel, the BRAS-PAR project is being implemented by a consortium of National research institutes in Burkina Faso, Ghana, Niger and Senegal, IUCN, and ILRI

Guide methodologique: Méthode communautaire participative d’inventaire et de priorisation des technologies / pratiques d’agriculture élevage-agroforesterie climato-intelligentes

Ce guide traite des questions d’identification des interventions prioritaires pour les communautés dans le contexte du changement climatique. Il s’agit d’une approche participative d’inventaire et de priorisation des technologies / pratiques d’agriculture-élevage-agroforesterie et sociales climato-intelligentes. Le guide fournit aux agents de terrain un accompagnement et́ape par et́ape pour travailler avec les acteurs clédans les sites cibles, pour identifier les pratiques prometteuses qui aideraient ces derniers às’adapter aux variabilités climatiques dans leurs activités de production. Le guide a étéproduit dans le cadre d’un projet “Building resilient agro-sylvopastoral systems in West Africa through participatory action research” (BRASPAR)” qui est l’un des projets de la Composante 2 financée par le programme de recherche du CGIAR sur les Changements Climatiques, l’Agriculture etla Seć urité Alimentaire (CCAFS). La composante 2 du CCAFS, quitraite des pratiques ettechnologies climato-intelligentes, s’attaque aux défis de comment passer àune agriculture climato-intelligente (ACI) àplus grande échelle pour permettre aux system̀ es agricoles d’et̂re transformeś et reó rienteś pour soutenir la seć uritéalimentaire dans le contexte actuel de changement climatique. Pilotépar l’ICRAFWCA/Sahel, le projet BRAS- PAR est mis en œuvre au Burkina Faso, Ghana, Niger et Seń eǵ al par un consortium d’institutions nationales de recherche (INERA, SARI, INRAN et ISRA), IUCN et ILRI

Optimisation de la production de biométhane à partir des déchets organiques municipaux

La gestion des déchets municipaux est devenue une préoccupation majeure dans les pays en développement, due au manque de politique et de stratégie adaptées. L’étude réalisée a porté sur la valorisation biotechnologique de la fraction biodégradable des déchets au Burkina Faso. Une analyse physico-chimique des déchets échantillonnés dans trois (3) centres de précollecte de déchets municipaux de Ouagadougou a été réalisée. L’influence du type d’inoculum (eaux usées, bouse bovine, flux de broyat de termites et une mixture de ces 3 inocula) et de la charge en substrat (déchets organiques) a été évaluée au cours d’essais de fermentation méthanique. Les résultats obtenus ont montré que les déchets organiques municipaux constituent un substrat de prédilection pour la méthanisation avec un ratio C/N de 31,65. Les essais de fermentation ont permis de noter que la bouse bovine comme inoculum avec une charge en déchets municipaux de 2% donnait la meilleure production de biométhane (297,65 l CH4 / Kg MSV). Il ressort de cette étude que les déchets municipaux peuvent être traités par la voie de la biométhanisation car présentant un potentiel de bioconversion intéressant.© 2015 International Formulae Group. All rights reserved.Mots clés: Déchets organiques, digestion anaérobie, biométhane, environnement, Burkina FasoEnglish Title: Optimization of biomethane production from municipal solid organic wastesEnglish AbstractMunicipal solid organic wastes management became a major preoccupation. The achieved study focuses the biotechnological valorization of the biodegradable fraction of solid organic wastes in Burkina Faso.  Physicochemical characterization analysis of solid wastes sampled in 03 Ouagadougou’s centers of municipal wastes deposits was achieved. The influence of inoculum source (wastewater, bovine dung, termites’ homogenate and mixture) and substrate concentration (municipal solid waste) were evaluated during biomethane production tests. Results showed that organic fraction of solid wastes represent a source of predilection for methanization with 31.65 C/N cow. Fermentation tests showed that bovine dung used as inoculum in 2% of municipal solid waste gave the highest rate of biomethane production (297.65 l CH4 / Kg vs). The results demonstrate that municipal wastes can be valorized by biomethanization way because presenting interesting bioconversion potential.© 2015 International Formulae Group. All rights reserved.Keywords: Organic wastes, anaerobic digestion, biomethane, environment, Burkina Fas

Contribution à la biométhanisation de la biomasse végétale: cas des résidus de légumes au Burkina Faso

La matière organique constitue une source de bioénergie par la voie de la digestion anaérobie. Le but de cette étude est de déterminer les paramètres physico-chimiques et les effets de l’inoculation ainsi que de la température sur la biométhanisation des résidus de légumes. Des échantillons de résidus de légumes collectés dans des localités différentes (restaurants universitaires et marchés de légumes) à Ouagadougou ont servi de substrat. L’étude des paramètres physico-chimiques a été réalisé à l’aide des méthodes standard (AOAC, APHA) et le biogaz produit a été analysé par chromatographie en phase gazeuse. Le pH, la matière sèche, la matière sèche volatile, les cendres, le carbone organique, les protéines, les lipides et les carbohydrates totaux ont été respectivement de 5,87; 11,78%; 80,46%; 1,3%; 46,68%; 10,02%; 9,95%; 60,67%. La composition en minéraux exprimée en mg/g de matière sèche était de 12,69 (Ca2+) ; 19,44 (Ka+) ; 11,05 (Na+) ; 1,608 (N) ; 3,92 (p) ; 0,97 (SO4 2-). L’effet de l’inoculum a été mis en évidence par une production nulle de CH4 à partir d’un temoin non inoculé. La température optimale de production de biométhane a été de 44 °C avec un rendement de 238 ml CH4/g de MS.© 2016 International Formulae Group. All rights reserved.Mots clés: Déchets, légume, valorisation, biogaz, Burkina FasoEnglish Title: Contribution to the biometanation of plant biomass: case of vegetable residues in Burkina FasoEnglish AbstractOrganic material is a source of bioenergy through anaerobic digestion. The purpose of this study is to determine the physico-chemical parameters and the effects of inoculation as well as temperature on biomethanation of vegetable wastes. Samples of vegetable residues collected in different localities (canteens  and vegetable markets) in Ouagadougou were used as substrate. The study of physico-chemical parameters was performed using standard methods (AOAC, APHA) and biogas produced was analyzed by gas chromatography. pH, solids , volatile solids , ash, organic carbon , proteins , lipids and total carbohydrates were respectively 5.87 ; 11.78% ; 80.46 % ; 1.3% ; 46.68 % ; 10.02% ; 9.95% ; 60.67 %. The mineral composition expressed as mg/g dry matter was 12.69 (Ca2+); 19.44 (K+) ; 11.05 (Na+); 1.608 (N); 3.92 (p); 0.97 (SO42-). Inoculum effect was evidenced by no production of CH4 using an uninoculated control. The optimum temperature for biogas production was 44 °C in a yield of 238 ml CH4/g DM.© 2016 International Formulae Group. All rights reserved.Keywords: Waste, vegetables, valorization, Biogas, Burkina Fas

Antifungal potential of essential oils, aqueous and ethanol extracts of thirteen plants against Fusarium oxysporum f . sp Lycopersici and Phytophtora infestans (Mont.) de Bary as major tomato pathogens

Antifungal activity of essential oils (EO), ethanol extracts (ETE) and cold water extracts (CWE) of thirteen plants was evaluated against Fusarium oxysporum and Phytophtora infestans causal agents of tomato Fusarium wilt and late blight diseases respectively. The supplemented media and slide germination techniques were carried out to determine the effect of extracts on the mycelial growth and conidia germination of pathogens. The results showed that essential oils exhibited the highest antifungal activity followed by ETE and CWE. Callistemon citrinus, Cymbopogon citratus and Ocimum gratissimum essential oils were the most active inhibiting completely radial growth and conidia germination of Phytophtora infestans at 312.5 and 625 µg/ml. Essential oils of Ocimum gratissimum and Cymbopogon citratus inhibited totally the radial growth and conidia germination of Fusarium oxysporum at 625 and 312.5 µg/ml respectively. ETE of Ageratum conyzoides and Callistemon citrinus were the most active inhibiting radial growth of Phytophtora infestans. Cymbopogon citratus and Ocimum gratissimum were the most active against radial growth and conidia germination of Fusarium oxysporum at 6250 µg/ml. The fungi toxic potential of some extracts was comparable to synthetic fungicides used as positive controls. Preliminary phytochemical analysis of ETE and CWE revealed that stronger inhibiting effects were recorded with extracts rich in phenols, flavonoids, tannins, and coumarins. These findings may contribute to develop new green fungicides to protect tomato from Fusarium wilt and late blight diseases

In silico identification of a candidate synthetic peptide (Tsgf1(18-43)) to monitor human exposure to tsetse flies in West Africa

Background: The analysis of humoral responses directed against the saliva of blood-sucking arthropods was shown to provide epidemiological biomarkers of human exposure to vector-borne diseases. However, the use of whole saliva as antigen presents several limitations such as problems of mass production, reproducibility and specificity. The aim of this study was to design a specific biomarker of exposure to tsetse flies based on the in silico analysis of three Glossina salivary proteins (Ada, Ag5 and Tsgf1) previously shown to be specifically recognized by plasma from exposed individuals. Methodology/Principal Findings: Synthetic peptides were designed by combining several linear epitope prediction methods and Blast analysis. The most specific peptides were then tested by indirect ELISA on a bank of 160 plasma samples from tsetse infested areas and tsetse free areas. Anti-Tsgf1(18-43) specific IgG levels were low in all three control populations (from rural Africa, urban Africa and Europe) and were significantly higher (p < 0.0001) in the two populations exposed to tsetse flies (Guinean HAT foci, and South West Burkina Faso). A positive correlation was also found between Anti-Tsgf1(18-43) IgG levels and the risk of being infected by Trypanosoma brucei gambiense in the sleeping sickness foci of Guinea. Conclusion/Significance: The Tsgf1(18-43) peptide is a suitable and promising candidate to develop a standardize immunoassay allowing large scale monitoring of human exposure to tsetse flies in West Africa. This could provide a new surveillance indicator for tsetse control interventions by HAT control programs

Multi-Actors' Co-Implementation of Climate-Smart Village Approach in West Africa: Achievements and Lessons Learnt

Climate change and variability are significant challenges for the environment and food security worldwide. Development strategies focusing simultaneously on adaptive farming, productivity, and reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions-known as climate-smart agriculture (CSA) strategies-are key to responding to these challenges. For almost a decade, within the framework of Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS), World Agroforestry (ICRAF), and its partners have been using Participatory Action Research (PAR) to fully engage key stakeholders in co-creating such CSA development strategies. This includes the testing of Agricultural Research for Development (AR4D) CSA scalability options. The multidisciplinary teams include the National Research and Extension Systems (NARES), national meteorological services (NMS), non-profit organizations (NGOs), and local radio programs, among others. The CCAFS-West Africa Program,World Agroforestry-West and Central Africa (ICRAF-WCA), International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), University of Reading, and Centre Régional de Formation et d’Application en Agro-météorologie et Hydrologie Opérationnelle (AGRHYMET) provide technical backstopping to the national teams. Climate information (CI) was used as an entry point to inform the development of CSA technologies and practices within Climate-Smart Villages (CSV). This groundwork has led to a greater understanding of three critical factors for successful CSV implementation: (1) Building strong partnerships to co-design and develop agricultural systems that improve ecosystemand population resilience, (2) Key stakeholders (researchers, farmers, development agents, and students) capacity strengthening through vocational and academic training, and (3) Using CI for livelihood planning at all scales. These three factors support more effective identification and testing of agricultural technologies and practices addressing climate variability and change at plot, community, and landscape levels. This paper discusses the PAR-CSA methodology and parameters for evaluation, including biophysical and social change. Keys to success, including communication, knowledge sharing tools, and scalability are also discussed. Finally, future opportunities for improvement are presented, including knowledge product development, CSA policy and investment planning, capacity building, further engagement of the private sector, and additional research on existing practices and tools