Informations et ressources scientifiques
sur le développement des zones arides et semi-arides

Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR)
Research program : Water, Land and Ecosystems

Titre : Realizing the full biomass potential of mixed crop-livestock systems in rapidly changing Sahelian agro-ecological landscapes

Région /Pays : West Africa (Burkina Faso, Niger)
Lieu (x) : Project activities will be conducted in two sites in the semi-arid northern parts of the Volta and Niger River basins. i) Ouahigouya (650 mm annual rainfall) in Yatenga province in northern part of Burkina Faso. ii) Fakara (450 mm annual rainfall) in south-western Niger.

Date  : June 15, 2014 — December 31, 2016

Objectifs
The specific objectives of the project are to provide ‘proof of concept’ along two livestock systems value chains to develop co-benefits in agro-ecosystems landscapes and human (men and women) wellbeing : Three key points will be explored : 1) Assessment of the opportunities and effects of promising, adoptable and ecosystem-relevant biomass management practices on agricultural productivity, natural resource sustainability, food security and livelihoods ; 2) Analysis of multi-scale trade-offs of interventions to enhance biomass production and utilisation under different biophysical, socio-economic and institutional contexts, and for different farmer types and gender groups ; 3) Development of tools for integrated, participatory and gender sensitive assessments of biomass production in mixed crop-livestock systems and potential opportunities for out-scaling

Descriptif
The research questions being addressed are : (i) What are the opportunities and effects of biomass management practices on agricultural productivity, food security, livelihoods and ecosystem services related to soil and water ? (ii) What are the trade-offs and socio-economic barriers at different spatial and temporal scales associated with biomass production and utilization under different farmer types and gender groups ? (iii) What are the potential opportunities for out-scaling of promising ecosystem-enhancing biomass management practices ?

Lead Center : International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI)
Partenaires : International Water Management Institute, Wageningen University, Ministry of Animal Resources, Netherlands Development Organization, Ministry of Animal Resources and Fishery

Présentation : CGIAR