ICRISAT Archival Report 2006 - The seedlings of success in the ...

This PRA was followed by a structured survey in the North, centre-north and centre regions of Burkina Faso. In
each region, 7 villages were selected on the basis on population densities, and market access and relative
assessment of uptake. In each village, 1 village with high adoption, 2 with average adoption, 2 with low
adoption and 2 control villages were purposely selected. In each village, on average 15 households were
randomly selected. Therefore a total of 405 households were interviewed. Four questionnaires were developed
to gather information at (1) village level, (2) project level, (3) household and plot levels, and (4) research and
extension costs. Information will be used to assess impact using the economic surplus and the econometric
models.
Results: Preliminary results indicate that farmers are well aware of NRM technologies such as the stone bunds
(81%), zaï (65%), manure pits (61%), sowing in line (60%). But they are less aware of half moon (9%),
vegetative bands (15%), compost (26%) or small dikes (3%). The main information sources are rural
development projects and NGOs involved in soil and water conservation (62%), other farmers (41%), and the
traditional extension services (39%). Minor sources include research institutions (8%), radios and television
(4%).
The proportion of surveyed farmers reporting using stone bunds is estimated to 70%, 50% for the zaï, 5% for
half- moon, 4% for vegetative bands, 21.5% for compost and 12% for rotation. Constraints to dis-adoption of
these technologies reported by farmers include the lack of agricultural equipment (60.3%), lack of labor
(13.2%), low yield (8.8%), poor training (7.4%), and poor access to inputs. Farmers claimed that the reasons
why they are continuing to use or maintain the technologies is because they derive high productivity gains
(80%), or they are linked to rural development projects that provide equipment or food for work (55%) or they
have access to agricultural equipment (45%).
1B.6. Other NRM impacts
Stochastic dominance analysis of soil fertility restoration options on sandy sahelian soils in Southwest
Niger (WCA)
The poor fertility of sandy Sahelian soils remains one of the major constraints to pearl millet (Pennisetum
glaucum) production in West Africa. On-farm trials under farmers’ management were conducted in two rainfall
zones of Niger in 1996 and 1997 to evaluate the risk characteristics of six soil fertility restoration options.
Stochastic dominance analysis was used to compare the fertilizer treatments tested. Results showed that the
farmers’ traditional method (no fertilizer control), Tahoua phosphate rock (PRT) alone applied at 13 kg P ha−1
broadcast, and a combination of PRT broadcast at 13 kg P ha−1 and single super phosphate (SSP) hill-placed at
4 kg P ha−1 had the most desirable risk characteristics and were acceptable to risk averse decision-makers in
both rainfall zones. At current input–output price ratios, most fertilizer-using farmers would choose the
combination of PRT broadcast and SSP hill-placed. If the availability of SSP was limited, some farmers would
use PRT alone. The demand for risk efficient alternatives could significantly increase if farmers could bear less
than half the fertilizer costs at the current output price, although further research is required to say if a fertilizer
subsidy could be justified on broader economic or social grounds.
Evaluation of economic returns of drip irrigation and local irrigation system: From June 2002 to May 2003, 827
drip irrigation systems were distributed and disseminated in Niger by ICRISA T and partners. Two types of
systems were developed including the Thrifty system (TS) of 80 sq meters and a large commercial system (CS)
of 500 sq meters. These systems were targeting two segments of the population based on gender. The small
systems were targeted to women who are often excluded from the cash economy in rural and urban areas. The
large systems were made to target vegetable producers some of which are located in peri-urban areas where the
demand and income are relatively high. Development project partners found very appropriate to use these
systems to address community deficiencies in basic nutrients and others used these as students – field- schools
to teach students of biology and agronomic principles. These systems were distributed in the regions of Agadez,
Tahoua, Zinder, Tillabery, Dosso (60 CS+173 TS) and the peri-urban Niamey (50 CS + 276 TS).
Since then, there was little monitoring and little was known on the level of uptake and use of these technologies.
As a step towards a study on diffusion of drip irrigation systems in Niger, 2 zones were targeted: the peri-urban
Niamey and the Dosso region where 130 CS and 363 TS were distributed. These areas differ significantly by the
level of monitoring and evaluation. While in peri-urban Niamey, little monitoring and technical support was
provided, in Dosso, these systems were largely supported by the Projet de Development Integree de la Region
de Dosso and the “Ecole de Sante”’projects funded by the Luxemburg government.
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