Characterizing the diversity of vegetable farms in the Bobo-Dioulasso region in Burkina Faso to facilitate their agro-ecological transition.

Abstract

A typology based on market gardening practices was carried out based on a survey of 300 producers from ten urban, semi-urban and rural market gardening sites of Bobo-Dioulasso in Burkina Faso, in view of assessing the potential for transition towards more ecological production methods. No farmer currently practices exclusively organic or agro-ecological production methods. The typology allowed defining four types of farms based on their location, size and intensity of use of pesticides and mineral and organic fertilizers. All farms have common assets such as the widespread practice of crop rotations and associations and organic fertilization, but also specific challenges in terms of pesticide use and sustainable fertilization for an agro-ecological transition. Producers generally have a weak and imprecise knowledge of the effects of their practices on the environment, especially in urban areas where greater awareness regarding the health and environmental impacts of market gardening practices needs to be raised.