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

3. Use of
fertilizer micro
dosing
techniques and
warrantage
1) 335 families involved in various actions
of microdosing and warrantage based on
improved varieties of millet, sorghum,
cowpea, sesame; control of ragouva, using
of mineral and organic fertilizer
2) 40 producers trained in land degradation
and desertification and management of
natural resources. Edition of
agrometeorology monthly newsletter of
Gabi for the 2 nd semester of 2005.
PAFN at Mayahi
335 families Various training by
technical departments,
project and NGOs
ECOPAS = Ecosysteme Protégé Sahelien; ASGN = Association pour la Sauvegarde de la Giraffe au Niger;
CORAF = Conseil Ouest et Centre Africain pour la Recherche et le Developpement Agricole; CRS = Catholic
Relief Service; PADL = Projet d’ Amenagement pour le Developpement Local; PAM = Program Alimentaire
Mondial; PAFN = Projet Amenagement des Forets Naturelles
B. Burkina Faso
1. The context
Burkina Faso is seriously affected by land degradation and desertification. Every year, thousands of hectares of
woodlands disappear due to clearance, bush fires, excessive cutting of wood, overgrazing and lopping. Land
degradation, caused by water and wind erosion, renders lands unfertile. The arable lands have reduced significantly
due to land degradation. This has further increased poverty in the rural areas. DMP-GEF project therefore aims to
combat land degradation in the desert margins areas (rainy season 100 to 600 mm) through participatory research
and the strengthening of institutional capacity. Specific objectives are to develop strategies to arrest land
degradation, reduce soil erosion and the loss of biodiversity.
2. Description of the technology/strategy
2.1 Management of degraded lands using the delphino plow, half-moons and seeding
This technology of land rehabilitation is based on the use of the delphino plow, which constructs half-moons that are
spaced 5 m apart. During the dry season seeds of herbaceous plants and shrubs are transported by the wind and
collected in these half-moons. During the rainy season, the half-moons collect runoff and thus enhance water
infiltration and storage. This water is made available to the trees, grasses and shrubs seeds and seedlings thereby
promoting their growth. The half-moons are constructed following the convex lines of the curves. Rehabilitation of
degraded lands was done in the sites of DMP Burkina Faso and other research/development projects, namely Banh,
Tougouri, Katchari and Oursi. The work was carried out either at the village or household level.
2.1.1 The basis of the technology’s success
To achieve the rehabilitation of degraded lands the following conditions have to be met:
• Favorable Harmattan winds carrying seeds of herbaceous plants and shrubs into the half-moons. These half-moons
are built in such a way that they can collect and retain seeds, store water and reduce run off. It is also advisable to
do some seeding and tree planting under certain conditions.
• Based on the experience of DMP work in Burkina Faso, it was observed that there should a minimum amount of
rainfall for the success of the activity. For example, the results from the Banh site were not as good as those from
the other sites due to low rainfall in 2005.
• The managed lands must be protected against grazing animals. There should be no grazing on these lands that are
being rehabilitated for one to two years depending on the sites to ensure that the grasses and shrubs seedlings are
well established. In this regard the DMP team has conducted a series of awareness campaigns of rural
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