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

sources of income for the rural communities. Following some characterization studies, both biophysical and
socioeconomic, undertaken by DMP Burkina, the recommendation domains were identified for promising
technologies to alleviate these rural poverty. One such technology is planting of gum arabic (Acacia senegal). In
collaboration with the Institute for Rural Development, DMP Burkina undertook to study the socioeconomic aspects
of the gum arabic sector in Burkina Faso, its potential to generate income for the rural communities and any other
issue related to the cultivation of gum arabic.
2.2.1 The basis of the technology’s success
Gum arabic is a tree that is well adapted to the Sahelian conditions, as in Burkina Faso. Acacia senegal exists in
Kaya and in Gourma and gum arabic is being traded in Dori. This tree provides fodder for animals and the gum has
a high market value. It is nutritious for humans and is used for medicinal purposes. It has high nitrogen content and
low in tannins, which makes it a good quality of forage. It is an excellent alternative source of income for the rural
communities in the Sahel. One of the biggest advantages of this tree is that it produces leaves early thereby enabling
farmers to have fodder for their livestock following the dry season.
2.2.2 How is it implemented?
In collaboration with the Institute for Rural Development, DMP-Burkina undertook to study the socioeconomic
aspects of the gum arabic sector in Burkina Faso, its potential to generate income for the rural communities and any
other issue related to the cultivation of gum arabic. The production of plants was done in collaboration with the
departmental services of the Ministry of Environment, the development associations such as the Aid association in
Yatenga in Ouahigouya, the rural communities and farmers’ organizations (Table 8).
Table 8. Number of Acacia senegal seedlings produced and planted in 2005 by DMP-Burkina.
Organization/institution Number Acacia senegal
DRECV NORD
Planned/expected 3250
Production 2250
Planted 2000
AAY
Planned/expected 3250
Produced 3650
Planted 3600
DRECV
Planned/expected 8000
SAHEL
Produced 8000
Planted 8000
DPECV BOULSA
Planned/expected 40000
Produced 40000
Planted 40000
TOTAL
Planned/expected 54500
Produced 53900
Planted 53600
DRECV = Direction Regionale de l’Environnement et du Cadre de Vie; AAY= Association Aide au Yatenga;
DPECV = Direction
Provinciale de l’ Environnement et du Cadre de Vie
2.2.3 Up-scaling the technology
Farmers have been planting trees for a long time, but there is very little success in reforestation due to the lack of
accompanying measures such as protecting the young seedlings from damage by animals. Quite often farmers
protect these young seedlings only if they see some immediate benefits from the products of the trees. Those farmers
who are familiar with gum arabic do protect the seedlings, but in the villages where this tree is newly introduced
there is a need to create awareness among the farmers of the values of Acacia senegal as an important alternative
source of revenue.
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