Ameli-EAUR project: Which lessons for the promotion of agricultural value chains?

Abstract

Due to the lack of rain, dry spell and agricultural insufficient inputs, agricultural yields are very low and do not allow achieving food self-sufficiency in countries such as Burkina Faso. To fight against this situation in the context of climate change, several researches have emerged such as agronomic research with the promotion of crop varieties that require little water and short growth period. The Ameli-EAUR project is another example of research. This project aimed to promote hygiene and sanitation by the use of sanitation by-product in rural and sub-urban areas of Burkina Faso. Ameli-EAUR project was initiated and implemented within five years. Completed in 2015, it appears necessary to think over its impacts on production hence the question: which lessons for the promotion of agriculture, specifically for agricultural value chains"? Based on the result of a post-survey performed one year after the end of the project, the aim of this presentation is to show that project can support the promotion of agricultural Value Chains in spite of difficulties if we take into account some parameters. To do this, we will start by presenting briefly Ameli-EAUR; then we will take stock of the project; finally, we will examine the possibilities it offers for the promotion of agricultural value chains, taking as example the vegetable gardening. We will also try to show the limits of value chains which are presented nowadays as a solution to many problems of agriculture in Africa.