SOCIOECONOMIC CONSIDERATIONS IN PROMOTING SAFER IRRIGATION PRACTICES IN URBAN VEGETABLE FARMING IN BURKINA FASO

摘要

This paper aims at understanding factors governing the use of current urban and periurban irrigation systems in view of their improvement. The study is based on data collected from 570 vegetable farmers in Ouagadougou and Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso. Results show that the irrigation system used depends on the agroecological and socioeconomic characteristics of the city in which the activity takes place. Farmers also use these irrigation systems based on the type of vegetable they grow and the labour availability. These irrigation systems seem to be already adapted to land tenure insecurity in the urban environment. Moreover, results indicate that promoting safer irrigation practices or technologies should strengthen existing farmers' organizations and creating a framework for a dialogue with local authorities.