Léopold Some Inera
0 3 BP 7192 Ouagadougou 03
Burkina Faso
E-mail: dg.cnrst@fasonet.bf

Abstract

Agriculture in Sahlian countries is strongly dependant on rainfall. Since the beginning of the seventies deteriorating climatic conditions have been observed in this region. This has particularly resulted in a low and /or a bad space-time repartition of rainfall. Giving that it is impossible to efficiently modify the climate, one must try to manage in the best way the entire rainfall. In Burkina Faso, several research and development institutions have been dealing with this problem since the beginning of 1973-74 Sahel drought. Unfortunately the drought still persists today. This paper summarizes what has been done in Burkina Faso regarding developing technologies for rainwater catchment. Several techniques including, flat ploughing, earthing up and tied ridging have been compared to the traditional non soil tillage in a pluri-annual and multi-local agronomic trials conducted with respect to all the eco-climatic conditions of the country. Some other rainwater catchment systems have been tried, particularly in the North of the country, to make more water available for supplemental irrigation on rain-fed crops or watering of animals.