GENERAL BACKGROUND DATA

* Note: Bagre irrigation scheme (total 30 000 ha of which 35 ha in 1996 to be 1 600 ha by 1998) and Sourou recent development not included

LIST OF ACRONYMS

1. PERSONS MET

2. INTRODUCTION

3. INSTITUTIONS OF INTEREST MAINLY INVOLVED IN RESEARCH AND/ORTRAINING

3.1 Ecole Inter-Etats d’Ingénieurs de l’Equipement Rural

3.2 Ecole Inter-Etats des Techniciens Supérieurs de l’Hydraulique et de l’Equipement Rural

3.3 Institut de Développement Rural

3.4 Institut National de l’Environnement et de Recherches Agricoles

3.5 Centre Régional pour l’Eau Potable et l’Assainissement à Faible Coût

4.1 Direction des Pêches

4.2 FAO Special Programme for Food Security

4.3 Maîtrise d’Ouvrage de Bagre (MOB)

4.4 Autorité de Mise en Valeur de la Vallée du Sourou

4.5 Office National des Barrages et des Aménagements Hydro-agricoles

5.1 Positive Factors

5.2 Constraints

5.3 Recommended Research Institution

1. PERSONS MET

2. INTRODUCTION

Most of Burkina Faso belongs to the Sahelian region whose southern boundary roughly coincides with the 1000mm isohyete (mean annual rainfall), see Figure 1. South of this isohyete, in the south western part of the country, annual rainfall regularly increases to reach slightly above 1200mm at the most. This is the region where rice culture is concentrated, except for the Sourou development in the north west, entirely dependent on Mouhoun River water.

Because of such dry climatic conditions more than 2000 reservoirs of all sizes have been built over the past years, many of them being seasonal. Most permanent reservoirs are concentrated in the central part of Burkina Faso. On average, it is estimated that a reservoir to remain permanent should have at least a 200 000 cu. m water capacity. Ideally, it should have a 50-100 ha minimum water area at the end of the dry season which roughly corresponds to a maximum water area of 150 to 300 ha at full capacity and a minimum volume of 500 000 cu. m (Ouedraogo, pers. comm.).

These reservoirs are used for domestic supply, hydro-electricity production (for example, Bagre and Kompienga reservoirs) and/or irrigation, sometimes both upstream and downstream from the reservoir. Four large irrigation schemes either have been developed (Kou and Comoe) or are being developed (Bagre and Sourou). The main crop is rice (sometimes maize also) produced at the rate of two crops per year (120-day cycles).

In the southern part of the country, numerous inland valley bottoms (bas-fonds) are also found, where a relatively high and well supplied water table allows agricultural development. Various NGO are present to support the integrated development of rural communities. The FAO Special Programme has also initiated activities for intensifying and diversifying existing cultural systems (Section 4.2).

Still in this southern part of the country, fishery development activities are implemented by GTZ from Bobo-Dioulasso. A previous EDF project (Valorisation du potentiel halieutique, VPH, from 1986 to 1991) has concentrated throughout Burkina-Faso on the fishery enhancement of small reservoirs (max. 50 ha) through stocking of young Nile tilapias (Traoré and Baijot, 1988). Some good results have been obtained, major constraints being identified as economic viability and sociological aspects (for example, fishing rights and water rights). All support activities, in particular the supply of juvenile fish, have stopped with the completion of the project.

• All research institutions (in particular CMRST/INERA and University/IDR, Sections 3.3 and 3.4) have been recently regrouped under the umbrella of the Institute for Tropical Scientific and Technical Research (IRSAT).
• At Ouagadougou University, the Laboratoire d’Ecologie is specialized in hydrobiological research
• A new five-year National Plan for Scientific and Technical Research has been prepared. Rizipisciculture and fishery research have been included and budgeted for (A.T. Kabre, pers. comm.).

Information services

• At Ouagadougou University, the French Government is financing a connection to all information centres through Internet, as the "Système d'Information Francophone pour le Développement" (SIFED).
• France is also financing the "Centre d’Information pour le Développement" (CID) in Ouagadougou, as a specialized library holding technical serials and monographs. The AGRIDOC database is also available.

The Interstate School for Rural Equipment Engineers (EIER) is an international francophone training centre involving fourteen African nations (Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Côte d’Ivoire, Congo (PR), Gabon, Guinea, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal, Chad and Togo). In three years of study, for candidates having already a baccalaureat and two years of advanced studies, it produces engineers specialized in the design, construction, initial operation, follow-up, management and maintenance of infrastructures and equipment necessary for rural and peri-urban development. It provides also specialized 9.5 months training in sanitary engineering, energetic/industrial refrigeration engineering, agricultural hydraulics, water resources mobilization and computerization applied to water sciences. EIER is located on the Ouagadougou University campus.

Support to development is provided through a Professional Training Cell (CFPI), laboratories for civil and sanitary engineering, and applied research. Past research subjects have included:

• water treatment by lagooning;
• reutilization of waste water;
• lake eutrophication;
• solar drying;
• hydro-agricultural schemes;
• irrigation management;
• geographic information systems applied to environmental studies and to water resources management.

In spite of the interest shown for water resources utilization and management in general, it was noted that fisheries received practically no attention (even at training level) and that aquaculture in particular was completely ignored.

The general secretariat of the ARID network (Regional association for irrigation and drainage, see section 7.1) is automatically attributed to the EIER Director.

The Interstate School for Hydraulics and Rural Equipment Senior Technicians (ETSHER) is an international francophone training centre involving fourteen African nations similar to EIER (Section 3.1). In two years of study, it produces senior technicians (baccalaureat + 2 years of study) specialized in civil engineering, hydro-agricultural development and water resources utilization /sanitation. It provides also (in coll. EIER, Section 3.1) one to four weeks specialized training in subjects such as study of environmental impact, diagnosis/development of valley bottoms, management/maintenance of pumping stations and direction/control of civil works. Major financial partners are France, Denmark, the Netherlands, Switzerland and the European Union. The centre is located next to a small reservoir at Kamboinse, 10 km north of Ouagadougou, next to INERA Animal Production Department and INERA Research/ Training Centre (Section 3.4).

ETSHER includes a Documentation/Information Centre for Hydraulics and Rural Equipment to be soon connected to Internet.

Support to development is provided through a Professional Training Cell. (CFPI) and laboratories for civil and sanitary engineering, common to EIER (Section 3.1) and ETSHER. Applied research is now centred in six themes addressed to waste water treatment by infiltration, alternative sanitation techniques for peri-urban areas, local materials development (e.g., geo-concrete bricks), inland valley bottoms development, watershed management and a technical manual for private irrigation development.

ETSHER has been selected by FAO to host the new regional project GCP/RAF/340/JPN (Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger) to research on existing possibilities to recharge water tables from small reservoirs.

The Rural Development Institute (IDR) is, within the Ouagadougou University, the institution responsible for the production of Rural Development Engineers (baccalaureat + 2 + 3 years). Since 1995, it has been transferred from Ouagadougou to a new site located 15 km from Bobo-Dioulasso where it is progressively being redeveloped.

IDR has three specialized Departments:

• Agronomy, including an experimental station still in Ouagadougou;
• Animal husbandry, including an experimental station still in Ouagadougou;
• Waters and Forests.

On average, 30 to 40 R&D engineers graduate each year, of which 10 to 15 percent are foreigners.

Fisheries and aquaculture (incl. fish diseases ) are taught during the second year of study (introduction for all students) and during the third and fourth years of study, within the "Waters and Forests" specialization. Since 1989, no practical training periods (in particular during the last year of specialization) has involved aquaculture and only in three cases has fishery technology been involved. In these last instances, unusual problems of post schooling employment have been encountered which do not encourage further involvement in such direction, in particular as all recruitment for public services has been frozen until further notice.

IDR has a library with more than 4500 books and 1300 reports/memoirs/theses.

Cooperation agreements and/or contracts have been established with several universities such as Georgia (US), CNEARC Montpellier (France), Toulouse (France), F.A. Gembloux (Belgium), Wageningen (Netherlands), Copenhagen (Denmark) and EPF Lausanne (Switzerland).

Research is carried out by each of the IDR Departments. One of the research themes of the Waters and Forest Department is the dynamics and exploitation of Burkina Faso artisanal fisheries, in collaboration with a local NGO.

Two research projects with Belgian support involve aquaculture aspects:

• fish farming station rehabilitation at Bazéga is operational since 1996 as a collaboration between universities, to become a research centre for doctorate theses. Research subjects include local feeds, rizipisciculture and tilapia fry production for stocking;
• Azolla/fish cultures in Sourou rice fields is under discussion since June 1997 and should be approved soon (Prof. Micha and Van Hoeve). Doctorate theses on Azolla in particular would then be initiated.

Further research at Sourou and Kou irrigation schemes on rizipisciculture and capture fisheries have recently been included in the new five-year National Plan for Scientific and Technical Research (Section 2).

The National Institute for the Environment and Agricultural Research (INERA) has been created in 1994 from the fusion of the National Institute for Agricultural Studies/Research (INERA) and the Research Institute for Tropical Ecology and Biology (IRBET).

The old INERA has been involved for many years with agriculture, animal husbandry and forestry research. The new INERA has acquired a fourth department responsible for the management of natural resources which will soon include new staff/facilities for fishery research. Aquaculture is also to be considered. Rizipisciculture in the Sourou irrigation scheme is of particular interest, combined with Azolla culture for atmospheric nitrogen fixation, weed control and fish feed (collaboration with Louvain University in Belgium). Close collaboration with the IDR Water and Forests Department (Section 3.3), with the Department of Fisheries (Section 4.1) and with the FAO Special Programme for Food Security (Section 4.2) are also planned.

There are five Environmental /agricultural research centres dispersed throughout the country:

• northern region : at Dori;
• western region : at Di, near the Sourou irrigation scheme;
• central region : near Koudougou;
• western central region : near Bobo-Dioulasso;
• eastern region : at Katchari.

A Research/training centre including a documentation unit, is located at Kamboinsé near Ouagadougou and next to ETSHER (Section 3.2).

The Regional Centre for Drinking Water and Sanitation at Low Cost (CREPA) is one of the five African centres of the International Training Network (ITN) for Water and Wastes Management established by the World Bank:

• in Central/West francophone AfricaCREPA since 1988 (Burkina Faso)
• in West anglophone AfricaTREND since 1989 (Ghana)
• in East AfricaNETWAS since 1987 (Kenya)
• in Southern AfricaIWSD since 1988 (Zimbabwe)
• in South AfricaNCWSTI since 1996 (RSA)

In Burkina Faso, CREPA works closely with EIER (Section 3.1) and ETSHER (Section 3.2). Active national representations of CREPA, mostly made of NGO and associative or private structures, have by now been established in eight of the 15 member countries to disseminate strategies and appropriate technologies.

The actual third phase (1995-1999) of the CREPA programme of activities is financed by Switzerland, Denmark (DANIDA) and its own provision of services. The objectives are now to consolidate results obtained during the two previous phases through training, applied research and information.

Training activities are particularly aimed at introducing NGO, associations and private firms to the use of participatory approaches in hygiene planning, implementation, follow-up, evaluation and training. A la carte training sessions are also organized.

Applied research has been decentralized in favour of the national representations, through the RAGEDE programme (research applied to water, wastes and environment management). Selected researchers are financed locally for one year. Result are presented at an annual joint seminar where they are evaluated. Prolongation is agreed on the basis of such evaluation. The socio-economic aspects of CREPA activities are also considered.

Information diffusion is one of CREPA priority activities:

• research results are presented on various audio-visual supports such as filmstrips (diapos), video films, manuals and pamphlets;
• a quarterly newsletter "Info CREPA" is produced;
• a documentation centre is open in Ouagadougou to the public. It is the depository of World Bank publications. A computerized database is being established.

On average, CREPA has a staff of 25 technicians. Competence includes engineering, sanitary engineering, rural structures, management, sociology, economic, rural development and extension.

The Directorate of Fisheries is part of the new Environment and Water Ministry (MEE), which includes also Regional Directorates (DREE) as well as Provincial (SPEE) and Departmental (SDEE) Services for Environment /Water. Most field activities take place at these decentralized levels.

It is made of three Services: Fisheries, Research and Equipment. It would appear that a renewed government interest in fishery development is gradually increasing. Due mostly to a steadily demand for fish and the CFA franc devaluation, fish prices have greatly increased, improving the economic viability of culture-based fisheries and possibly fish farming.

Since 1996, the Bazéga fish farming station (90 km from Ouagadougou) has been rehabilitated after several years of abandon. Nile tilapia fry are produced at the rate of 200000 per year, to be made available for stocking small reservoirs (ref. EDF project 1986-1991).

The development of fish farming is not actually envisaged but rizipisciculture might be introduced in collaboration with Belgian assistance (Section 3.4).

On the basis of SPFS criteria for pilot projects, sites have been selected south of the 800-mm isohyete (mean annual rainfall) and in the western/southwestern region of the country for high potential rice and maize production. In addition, large irrigation schemes have been also included.

As a result, the following project sites have been given priority for the SPFS pilot phase (Figure 1):

(a) Sites with total water control (irrigation schemes)

• Kou Valley, west of Bobo-Dioulasso
• Banzon, between Bobo-Dioulasso and Orodara
• Sourou Valley, in the north western region (Section 4.4)

(b) Inland valley bottoms, IVB (high water table)

• Comoe Valley, in the south-western region

(c) Pluvial cultures (rainfall only): various sites.

Activities have started at IVB sites where shallow wells (less than 7m deep) and treadle pumps will assist to intensify the cultural systems for pluvial rice followed in counter seasons by vegetables. An inventory of IVB is being prepared to enable the development of the selected IVB at lower costs.

Diversification is envisaged by introducing animal husbandry (chicken, pigs and cattle) and fish farming (large irrigation schemes and downstream from dams). For the latter, cooperation with Morocco is being planned.

Agreements for contractual services will be made with INERA (Section 3.4), if this institution has the necessary expertise for the subject considered.

This is the public institution responsible for the implementation of the hydroelectric and hydroagricultural project of Bagre which includes:

• a dam and reservoir (max 25 500 ha; min. 8 500 ha) since 1992 on the Nakambé River (ex White Volta) 150 km south east of Ouagadougou;
• a hydroelectric power station (16 MW) since 1994;
• a potential downstream irrigation scheme of 21 000 ha (7 400 ha by gravity and 13 600 ha by pumping);
• a potential upstream irrigation scheme of 9 000 ha (pumping)

The development of a first 1 000 ha irrigated perimeter on the right bank of the river started in November 1995 with assistance from Taiwan Province of China. A 35-ha perimeter has been achieved in June 1996 and plots attributed to small farmers for rice production (two crops/year). It is planned that by end of 1998, 515 ha will have been added as well as 600 ha of the 2 100 ha perimeter on the left bank.

MOB sub-contracts research to national and foreign institutions, according to their competences. Subjects of particular interest are:

• study of Bagre reservoir fishery potential and its development/management has started since October 1997 by a French consulting firm, with Dr J. Moreau as the main consultant;
• a future study concerning the fishery development potential of the downstream area is contemplated with fish farming as a possibility. Rizipisciculture in paddy fields at subsistence level appears to be the preferred option.

The Sourou Valley Development Authority (AMVS) is a public institution depending technically from the Ministry of Environment and Water. The potential irrigation development is about 24 000 ha which represents 15 percent of the nation potential.

It has been established with the following objectives:

• to locate, mobilize, put in place and manage financial supports;
• to do or subcontract studies necessary for the development of the Sourou Valley and the Upper Mouhoun Valley;
• to build or subcontract the infrastructures necessary for the exploitation of these land areas and the annexed equipment;
• to promote interventions benefitting hydroagricultural development.

Development of a first 50 ha pilot irrigation perimeter started in October 1985 at Débé on the Sourou River, financed by the European Development Fund (EDF). This was followed in later years by the successive development of other irrigated perimeters which today extend over more than 2 000 ha.

AMVS consists of three Directorates:

• Technical, responsible for preliminary studies and construction of necessary infrastructures;
• Administrative/financial: accounting, financial management of development projects, equipments;
• Development, to promote locally interventions benefitting the development of irrigated perimeters.

This last Directorate is on-site at Niassan, where INERA (Section 3.4) has a research station. The main development objective is for local farmers’ cooperatives to become independent and responsible for all aspects of production, management and direct agricultural extension. AMVS support to farmers is particularly intensive during the first five years after land plot (1-2 ha) allocation. Later, it gradually decreases and concentrates on the cooperatives for which it becomes advisor and offers services at cost, on request. Today, there are two totally autonomous farmers’ cooperatives and three others are at the precooperative stage. Sociological studies are regularly made by AMVS sociologists.

Rice (two crops/year) and maize are the two main crops, complemented in counter season by vegetables. A rice processing plant (cap. 1.5 t/h) is operational in Gouran (Sourou) but its management on a commercial basis is still being discussed.

An artisanal fishery has developed at the Lery reservoir (max. 10 000 ha). In the irrigation scheme itself, it is planned to start research on rizipisciculture in collaboration with IDR (Section 3.3). AMVS has stated to this last institution its interest to develop such technology as far as possible. Farmers’ interest is said to be positive.

The National Office for Dams and Hydro-agricultural Schemes (ONBAH) is a state enterprise financially autonomous since 1984.

Its objectives are:

• to control surface water resources to the benefit of agriculture, animal husbandry, fishery and human development, and
• conservation of soil and water resources.

It is essentially a multidisciplinary consulting firm specialized in civil engineering (dams and irrigation schemes) with additional competences in agronomy, sociology, environmental studies and extension services. It bids for implementing projects not only in Burkina Faso but also in other African countries. It executes regularly contracts for UNDP and the UN Equipment Fund.

Discussions with AfDB are presently held for the selection of 250 permanent reservoirs from a 1000-reservoir database and for their valorization, fishery development included.

Potential participation of Burkina Faso into the African Research Network for the Integration of Aquaculture and Irrigation.

Positive factors include:

• vast potential for irrigated agriculture of which, both in large schemes and in inland valley bottoms, more than 46 000 ha have already been developed;
• priority for irrigated rice production;
• large number of permanent or quasi-permanent small (less than 200 ha) reservoirs associated with downstream irrigation;
• past experience with small reservoir fishery enhancement (stocking, community development, harvesting, marketing);
• reorganization of research on a sound basis, with better coordination and clearly identified responsibilities;
• new five-year national plan for research approved, including rizipisciculture and fishery enhancement;
• existence, within the Ouagadougou university structure, of the Rural Development Institute (IDR) where a dynamic team is being formed to become part of the new Burkinabe research pool (IDR/INERA) for fishery/aquaculture;
• development institutions responsible for large scale irrigation such as AMVS and MOB already aware of the integrated fish-rice production potential and agreeable to support research;
• FAO SPFS initiated, with interest in diversification through aquaculture.

Constraints include:

• lack of experience both in the Department of Fisheries and in research institutions concerning aquaculture in general and rizipisciculture in particular;
• generalized lack of cultured tilapia juveniles;
• great competition with animal husbandry for feed ingredients, except on irrigation scheme itself, if a rice processing plant is present and functional;
• e-mail and Internet connections not yet fully operational/generalized.

The Rural Development Institute (IDR) in Bobo Dioulasso appears to be the institution which could represent Burkina-Faso in the proposed research network. It is interested in animal husbandry and waters/forests. Sociological aspects and economics are also part of its interests.

6. LITERATURE CONSULTED

Autorité de Mise en Valeur de la Vallée du Sourou, 1997. Présentation de l’AMVS et de ses activités. Ouagadougou, AMVS, 8p.

Breuil, C., 1995. Burkina Faso. FAO Circulaire sur les Pêches, (888): 31 p.

EIER, 1996. Ecole Inter-Etats d’Ingénieurs de l’Equipement Rural. Brochure de présentation, 9p.

ETSHER, 1996. Ecole Inter-Etats des Techniciens Supérieurs de l’Hydraulique et de l’Equipement Rural. Brochure de présentation, 20p.

FAO/AGLW, 1995. Burkina Faso. pp. 71-76. En: L’irrigation en Afrique en chiffres. Rapports sur l’Eau, (7):336 p.

Maîtrise d’Ouvrage de Bagre, 1996. Note d’information sur le projet Bagré. Ouagadougou, MOB, 4p.

Micha, J.C., J. Moehl et A.C. Traoré, 1989. Rapport de mission de formulation, Projet de développement de la pisciculture rurale dans la zone du Sourou. Rome, FAO, FI:DP/BKF/87/053, 36p.

Traoré, J.C. et Baijot, E. 1988. L’aménagement piscicole de petites retenues d’eau par la pisciculture villageoise. Bulletin (Commission européene, Coopération Pêche), 1(1):13-5

Université de Ouagadougou, 1994. Institut de Développement Rural, IDR. Brochure de présentation, 20p.

Figure 1. Burkina Faso: major irrigation schemes and SPFS sites of particular interest