Re-greening of the Sahel: Reviving techniques

Photo by: Anneli Sundin CC BY-NC-ND

Physical Vs Economic water scarcity:

The 'water crisis' is often viewed to be a governance crisis. Economic water security is caused by lack of investment in water infrastructure, or the lack of ability to afford the use of an adequate water source.  The demand from manufacturing and large-scale agriculture is due to increase significantly. The extractive sector is a major consumer of water resources and is almost entirely foreign and/or state-owned (Hendrix, 2014). Economic water scarcity is prevalent in Sub-Saharan Africa, where structural issues surrounding water governance and distribution can be observed.

The Sahel region, spanning across the Sahara and the Sudanian Savannah is a semi-arid climate, primarily covered with grassland and savannah, with patches of shrub-land (Lumumba, 2015). Reduced rainfall and rising air temperatures are placing an increasing pressure on the land to produce abundant crops,  it being historically a difficult area to farm, with frequent droughts (Reij et. Al, 2009). Rain-fed agriculture is a main source of income for many within the regions of Niger and Burkina Faso, of which this post will focus on.

Re-greening of the Sahel:

The re-greening of the Sahel began when local farmers’ practices were rediscovered and enhanced in simple, low-cost ways by innovative farmers and nongovernmental organisations.

Re-greening is  low-cost land restoration that allows subsistence farmers to steer water security and, in turn food security  into their own hands, without placing reliance on government or privatised water distribution in regions of persistent droughts in regards to irrigation for farmlands. It began when local farmers practices were rediscovered and enhanced.

Ground water levels in the Sahel plummeted, yields for staple crops Sorghum and millet declined. Subsistence farming of millet and sorghum accounts for 40% of GDP and 87% employment in Niger (Hendrix, 2014). A huge dependency on 2 crops, highlights issues that can arise in the event of crop failure, in reference to drought, this can create a significant drag on economic growth.

Sorghum

Proso millet (a singular variation of millet)

Soil and water conservation have been alive in the local pool of knowledge for centuries, the sharing of farming techniques across regions is accelerating the revival of natural vegetation (Lumumba, 2015). Farmers themselves play a key role in disseminating knowledge through farmer-to-farmer visits, workshops, market days and so called ‘zaï schools’ (sundin, 2013).

Techniques:

Indigenous modification of traditional agroforestry, water and soil management practices are used in both Niger and Burkina Faso. Most techniques are successfully able to concentrate nutrients and water in small areas to improve soil fertility and crop yield. 'ZAI' is a term that farmers in northern Burkina Faso use in reference to small planting pits, these originate in western Sahel where infertile, encrusted soil receive a variable, low rainfall.

Zai pit

Source: Brandon Lingbeek

Millet growing in Zai pits - Burkina Faso

Source: Hamado Sawadogo.

Another technique in Burkina Faso's central Plateau is of farmers sewing crops in planting pits and building stone contour bunds to capture rainwater runoff and soil. This uses easily accessible and mostly free resources and has helped to rehabilitate 300,000 hectares of land and produce an additional 80,000 tonnes of food per year  (Reij et. Al, 2009).

Concentrating nutrients and water precisely where needed increases soil fertility. Manure is often added, termites enhancing soil architecture and water infiltration and retention  (Reij et. Al, 2009).  The pits retain water for long periods of time, allowing crops to survive dry spells.

Stone contour bunds:

Contour bunds for trees are a simplified form of micro-catchments. Common in Niger, the design allows rain run-off to spread evenly across an area, and slows down the flow enabling water to infiltrate the soil. The practice improves the soil by trapping sediments and organic matter within the plots instead of allowing them to wash away with the rain (Reij et. Al, 2009). Planting more trees to accompany these small plots reduce wind speed as well as evaporation, reducing the chance of crops being submerged by sand.

Bibliography:

Hendrix, C. 2014. 'Water and Security in Niger and the Sahel.' Research Brief

Lumumba, J. 2015. 'Regreening the Sahel: Restoring native vegetation using Assisted Natural Regeneration.' https://www.bothends.org/uploaded_files/inlineitem/CS7_Mali_RNC_Feb15.pdf

Reij, C. Smale, M. Gray Tappan, G. 2009 'Re-greening the Sahel: farmer-led innovation in Burkina Faso and Niger'. International Food Policy Research Institute.

Sundin, A. 2013. 'Re-greening the Sahel?' https://www.siani.se/blog/re-greening-sahel-anneli-sundin/

http://www.fao.org/docrep/u3160e/u3160e07.htm#5.3%20contour%20bunds%20for%20trees (contour bund picture)

Video produced by Shramajeevi Agri Films: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4mIeOGmq0E