UNDERSTANDING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF AGROECOLOGICAL PRACTICES IN EASTERN BURKINA FASO: THE ROLE OF RESOURCE ACCESS AND FARMER PROFILES

In the context of ongoing land degradation in the Sahel, agroecological practices such as soil and water conservation structures and organic amendments are increasingly promoted for sustainable soil fertility management. Nevertheless, the adoption and effectiveness of these practices remain constrained by the socio-economic realities of farming communities. A study conducted in 2017 in eastern Burkina Faso aimed to (i) assess the socio-technical conditions underpinning the implementation of selected agroecological practices and (ii) evaluate their effects on the aboveground biomass production of three herbaceous species.Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 292 farmers and biomass measurements using yield quadrats. Two combinations of practices were analyzed: (1) Stone Rows (SR) Burialof Crop Residues (BCR) Organic Manure (OM); and (2) SR Za pits OM. Farmers were grouped into four socio-economic classes, with Classes 13 representing the least endowed, and Class 4 the most affluent. The level of agroecological integration and intensification followed the order: Class 2 Class 1 Class 3 Class 4.Herbaceous biomass production averaged 5310 3914 kgha under SR ICR OM, and 4900 1158 kgha under SB Za OM. These findings raise the question of whether the level of agroecological intensification is influenced by the farmers economic status.