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side events

50+

Partners

>20

participants

>500

Side Event

FARMER AND PASTORALIST-CENTRIC SOLUTIONS TO MANAGING DROUGHTS AND SAFEGUARDING LIVELIHOODS

The goal is to highlight farmer- and pastoralist-centered solutions to better anticipate, manage, and mitigate the effects of droughts. The side event aims to share practical approaches that strengthen resilience, protect livelihoods, and support sustainable adaptation to climate change.

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Innovative Drought Resilience efforts in Burkina Faso.

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  • Landlocked Sahelian country in West Africa with a fragile ecological and climatic profile;
  • An economy dominated by agriculture (80% of the active population) characterized by small family farms very sensitive to rainfall shocks;
  • 6,498,610 ha of land are severely degraded, or 24% of the national territory (DGAHDI/SRTD, 2018);
  • 1960s: turnkey developments: Birth of state interventionist policies;
  • 70s & 80s: Taking the actors into account;
  • Decades 1990 and 2000: Rise of development NGOs (SOS Sahel, Reach Italia, Naam Groups, etc.);
  • Recent and ongoing projects/programs (PAM, PRAPA, PROSOL, PACES, NEERTAMBA, PDA-PL, PDH-SOUM, P2RPIA-CNS, DRABHyD, BEOG PUUTO, etc.)

Global context

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Soil and Water Conservation

The half-moon is a 4 m diameter, 0.15–0.25 m deep semicircular pit traced on contour, excavated with hand tools or traction. Spoil is layered upstream and as a ridge. Topsoil is replaced, mixed with 35 kg manure or compost.

  • Half-moon technique

Diagram of a Half-Moon

How to make a half-moon?

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Soil and Water Conservation

The half-moons are spaced 4 m apart in a staggered pattern, each unit occupying 32 m² with a usable area of ​​6.28 m². On 1 hectare, this configuration allows for approximately 299–300 half-moons. The alignment respects the natural contours of the land, ensuring optimal distribution for water capture and soil restoration.

  • Half-moon technique

Tracing the half-moons

Digging

Construction of the drainage banks

Spreading of manure

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Soil and Water Conservation

Zaï is a traditional Sahelian technique using small pits (20–30 cm wide, 10–20 cm deep) dug in the dry season and filled with organic matter. The pits attract termites, improve soil fertility, and capture rainfall, reducing runoff and evaporation while directing water and nutrients to crops on degraded lands.

  • Zai technique

pit layout

Theoretical diagram of the Zai technique

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Soil and Water Conservation

Zaï is a traditional Sahelian technique using small pits (20–30 cm wide, 10–20 cm deep) dug in the dry season and filled with organic matter. The pits attract termites, improve soil fertility, and capture rainfall, reducing runoff and evaporation while directing water and nutrients to crops on degraded lands.

  • Zai technique

Construction of the Zai pits

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Soil and Water Conservation

Stone bunds and clay earth dikes are constructed by aligning stones or compacted earth along contour lines. They slow runoff, promote infiltration, reduce erosion and retain sediments, thus improving the fertility, regeneration and productivity of degraded soils.

  • Stone bunds/Clay earth dike

Construction of the Zai pits

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Soil and Water Conservation

Bouli, les banquettes, Hedges live through plants and Runoff Water Collection Basin play an essential role in conserving water and stabilizing soils. They retain runoff, improve infiltration, reduce erosion, promote groundwater recharge and create fertile microenvironments, sustainably strengthening agricultural production and landscape resilience.

  • Others infrastructures

Bouli

Runoff Water Collection Basin

Les banquettes

Hedges live through plants

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Innovation tool for drought resilient

The Zainer is a low-cost, fuel-efficient soil drill for arid and semi-arid regions. Powered by a 5hp engine, it rapidly creates Zaï pits while depositing soil downslope to capture runoff. Easy to operate for all farmers, it produces up to 17 pits per minute and prepares 1 hectare in five days (compared to 300 hours of labor for manual Zaï).

  • Zainer

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Recovery of degraded land, improvement of soil fertility and increase in agricultural yields

Zai technique

Local community ownership ensures commitment, improves maintenance of restoration works, and strengthens long-term impact by empowering residents to protect and manage their own landscapes

Local community ownership

Land regeneration restores soil fertility, increases vegetation cover, improves water retention, and boosts agricultural productivity for resilient livelihoods.

Land regeneration

Recovery of degraded land, improves water conservation, improvement of soil fertility and increase in agricultural yields

Half-moons technique

Results and impacts

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Thank You