Feasibility Study for a National Domestic Biogas Programme in - SNV

Feasibility Study for a National Domestic Biogas Programme Burkina Faso
remote areas where the fertiliser prices are excessively high due to transport and
handling costs 56 .
Farmers producing cotton as a cash crop have an improved access to fertilisers
through the national cotton industry who offer advance loans on production for
agricultural inputs. Even if profitable, small farmers may not be able to afford
chemical fertilisers.
In the absence of nutrient recapitalisation, soil productivity will degrade, even under
good land husbandry practices, resulting in further poverty and increased food supply
problems. Thus, there is a need to explore avenues through which resource-poor
farmers can access fertilisers, and ensure their productivity and profitability by
improving land and crop husbandry.
1.6 Livestock systems
According to the Ministry of Livestock Resources 57 more than 80% of Burkinabé are
involved in livestock husbandry, organized in 1,700 breeder associations 58 and
specialized organisations poultry, pig fattening and dairy cows 59 60 often, these
associations maintain community “corrals” for commercial livestock breeding or dairy
farming near water holes. There number is estimated by the governmental livestock
experts at about 7,000 regrouped breeding groups with semi-permanent stabling
(corrals) at least over night.
While nomadic livestock production still accounts for over 70% especially of the
country’s northern cattle 61 , sedentary livestock farming with paddocks and feed
production has been successfully established over the last few years, supported by
national programmes particularly in the Eastern Region (e.g. Programme
Développement Agricole supported by Germany) and increased the number of semiintensive
and intensive dairy and/or fattening farms. According to the dairy
cooperative of Gourma, the number of small holder dairy farmers rose from 100 in
2003 to 400 in 2007.
To support their cultivation activities, an increasing number of households have 2 to 3
cattle or ox for animal traction. Donkeys are also used for transportation in the centre
and north of the country. The livestock is generally fed and maintained in a paddock,
close to the home. The animal dung is recognized as a valuable organic fertilizer and
therefore composted in a constructed sealed compost pit. These compost pits may
require for the decomposition process up to 200 litres of water per week, usually
transported by donkey carts.
Table 14: Livestock population and annual growth rate 62 - national statistics
Items cattle sheep goat donkey horse camel pig chicken guinea
fowl
56 FAO (2001) Global Farming Systems Study: Challenges and Priorities to 2030, REGIONAL
ANALYSIS- SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA (http://www.fao.org/ag/magazine/GFSS-Afr.pdf)
57 Ministère des Ressources Animales
58 groupements d’éleveurs
59 ”Maison de l’Aviculture”, “Maison des Eleveurs de Porcs”, “Table filière lait” :
60 Direction des Etudes et de la Planification/Ministère des Ressources Animales (2005) - Les
Statistiques du secteur de l’Elevage au Burkina Faso
61 FAO/Livestock information, Sector Analysis and Policy Branch (2005) – Livestock Sector
Brief of Burkina Faso;
62 FAO/Livestock information, Sector Analysis and Policy Branch (2005) – Livestock Sector
Brief of Burkina Faso
32