CGIAR Research Program on Dryland Systems - DS

Overview: AS1.2 - Wa-Bobo-Sikasso Transect (Ghana, Burkina Faso, and Mali)

AS1.1 - AS1.1


Leader Vincent Bado, International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics - ICRISAT

Team members: 12
Partner organizations: 4

Budget 2026
USD : 0

Activities/Products:  8


  Description
    
The WBS (Wa-Bobo-Sikasso) transect is a trans-boundary action site straddling areas of the Upper West Region (Ghana), the Hauts Bassins Region (Burkina Faso), and the Sikasso Region (Mali) and is host to an estimated population of about 5 million over a surface area slightly below 100,000 km2. As such, it represents the Western half of the West Africa region, characterized by low to moderate longitudinal population density gradients and a resulting continuum of extensive and intensive agricultures, in contrast to the significantly more (and more homogeneously) populated Eastern half of West Africa (Nigeria-Niger complex). Dryland Systems samples the WBS gradient at discrete intervals in 100km2 field sites located at Yagtuuri (Lawra District, Ghana), Mahon (Koloko Department, Burkina Faso) and Kani (Koutiala Circle, Mali). These field sites, all selected within so-called ‘action districts’ are paired with control sites (resp. Farakoro, Sayaga, Gbelinkaa) and display variable population densities (resp. intermediate, low, high), contrasted levels of historical state and private infrastructure, investments, and mechanization (resp. low, intermediate, high) that are also reflected in the inherent organizational sophistication and innovative capacity of individual farming communities. Owing to a relatively favorable natural resource base in the Sudano-Guinean belt with an annual rainfall in the [800-1200mm] range, the WBS action transect features a juxtaposition of intensified, cotton-based rainfed, agroforestry-based, and more traditional rainfed production systems with cereals (maize, millet, sorghum, lowland rice), pulses (cowpea, peanut, Bambara nut) and tubers (potato, sweet potato, yam). Levels of crop-livestock integration (cattle, small ruminants, swine and poultry) vary in a context of moderate but locally declining agro-biodiversity, sustained but locally stabilizing nutrient mining, and declining transhumance. The transect is characterized by a generally intermediate level of food security (supply of calories/ca) but poor nutritional status (e.g. lowest national ratings in Mali). The absence of very large urban centers in the vicinity relieves the rural hinterlands from exposure to large, deleterious environmental impacts but also limits market-driven development opportunities. The imminent completion of the first direct and uninterrupted paved road corridor throughout the transect is progressively unlocking accessibility to the 6th, 7th and 8th largest urban economies of West Africa (Accra, Bamako, Kumasi) and likely to significantly reduce (increase) local input prices (exposure to external trade shocks). In WBS, Dryland Systems aims to capacitate local communities to sustainably enhance the resource use efficiency (land, water, labor, agro-biodiversity, etc), thereby helping to mitigate the environmental impact of agricultural intensification and to control exposure and vulnerability to the new sources of food, nutrition and economic insecurity associated with rapid integration into large, urban-driven trade markets.
  Atlas
    
  Activities/Products
    
Code Activity/Product Name Leader Co-leader Total Outputs Output types View
AS1.2.1 Contour ridge bunding and other in-field water harvesting structures as entry/leverage points Zemadim Birhanu 1
AS1.2.2 Multi-purpose trees (G. sepium, Moringa, etc) Raymond Vodouhe 1
AS1.2.003 Integrated soil fertility management Vincent Bado Myriam Adam 1
AS1.2.004 Farmer managed natural regeneration of trees (FMNRT) Jules Bayala 1
AS1.2.005 Improved stover and crop residue processing for animal feed Myriam Adam Sapna Jarial 1
AS1.2.006 Natural resource governance (land tenure, local institutions, local conventions) Augustine Ayantunde Tunde Amole 1
AS1.2.007 Linking participatory action-research to policy through district-level platforms Edmond Totin 1
AS1.2.008 Supplementary HH survey for Mahon/Sayaga (Burkina-Faso) Joachim Binam Ademonla A. Djalalou-Dine Arinloye 1
  Projects
    
Acronym Project Title Year Section Leader Center Budget Start Date End Date View
  Outcomes and Impact
    
Code Outcomes and Impact Type Indicators View
1 Female and male farmers/stakeholders (inc.youth) awareness, skills and knowledge increased research outcome 3
2 Local community participation in co-design and co-implement village-based approaches increased research outcome 4
3 Crop yields increased development outcome 3
4 Food and Nutrition security status increased (e.g. availability, consumption) research outcome 2
5 Tools, methods, processes and capacity of stakeholders to create/customize resilience options improved research outcome 4
6 Agroforestry practices adopted/incresed research outcome 0
7 Female and male farmers/shakeholders use/adopt/implement methods/tools/approaches/technologies/NRMpractices/Varieties/framework/concepts development outcome 0
8 Fodder productivity increased development outcome 1
9 Livestock productivity increased development outcome 1
10 Multi-stakeholder partnerships and interactive learning increased research outcome 0
11 Rules and regulations developed/implemented at community level development outcome 1
12 Gender inclusiveness in decision making processes improved research outcome 1
13 Interventions better targeted/prioritized by stakeholders research outcome 1
  Personnel Involved
    
  Partners