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CR 19:119-132 (2001)
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Abstract
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The costs and risks of coping with drought: livelihood impacts and farmers' responses in Burkina Faso
Carla Roncoli1,*, Keith Ingram1, Paul Kirshen2
1Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, The University of Georgia, 1109 Experiment Street, Griffin, Georgia 30223-1797, USA
2Civil and Environmental Engineering Department and Fletcher School of Law and Policy, Anderson Hall, Tufts University, Boston, Massachusetts 02155, USA
1http://www.fews.org/bf980262/sh980626.html#bf. In this paper we use the term 'drought' to translate the common French term sécheresse used by educated local people without entertaining the debate of its meteorological, hydrological or
agronomic definitions. The Moré term waré refers to both a dry year and a dry period during the rainy season, including failure of expected rains event, such as planting rains
ABSTRACT: This paper analyzes the responses enacted by families of the Central Plateau in Burkina Faso during the year that followed a severe drought in 1997. We illustrate the agro-ecological and socio-economic contexts that shape livelihood options and
constraints in an area characterized by high levels of climatic risk and low natural resource endowment. A description of farmers' perceptions and official accounts identifies key criteria whereby farmers formulate evaluations and predictions of a season.
We document how food procurement and management practices are shaped by household resource access profiles and livelihood portfolios. Livelihood diversification, encompassing migration, non-farm work and social support networks, in addition to livestock
production, is shown to be a critical dimension of adaptation. Livelihood and production adjustments entail costs and risks for most, but also gains for those who have the resources needed to take advantage of distress sales and high prices of
agricultural commodities. Household livelihood and risk management increasingly hinge on efforts by household members who traditionally have had marginal access to resources, especially women. The research points to the need for closer integration of
drought preparedness efforts, farmers' understanding of climate-crop interactions and interventions that bolster the capacity of resource-limited households to respond. Affordable grain, locally adapted seed varieties, labor saving technology and flexible
credit are among the most needed inputs.
KEY WORDS: Rainfed agriculture · Burkina Faso · Coping strategies · Food security · Household livelihood · Drought · Climate variability · Risk management
Full text in pdf format
Published in CR Vol.
19, No. 2
(2001) on December 4
Print ISSN: 0936-577X; Online ISSN: 1616-1572.
Copyright © Inter-Research, Oldendorf/Luhe, 2001
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