WASCAL Scholar Community: A research article reports the results of original research, assesses its contribution to the body of knowledge in a given area, and is published in a peer-reviewed scholarly journal. Research publications through published and on-going articles/researches are captured in this community

Factors driving Climate-Smart Agriculture adoption: a study of smallholder farmers in Koumpentum, Senegal

2025-03-14T00:00:00Z

Title: Factors driving Climate-Smart Agriculture adoption: a study of smallholder farmers in Koumpentum, Senegal Authors: Ewulo, Taiwo A.; Akinseye, Folorunso M.; Teme, Niaba; Agele, Samuel O.; Yessoufou, Nouroudine; Kumar, Shalander Abstract: Climate change significantly threatens agriculture and food systems in developing countries, especially in Senegal, where agriculture is vital for livelihoods and economic advancement. A study investigated the factors influencing the adoption of Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) innovations among smallholder farmers in Koumpentum, Senegal. Through comprehensive research and multistage random sampling, 270 smallholder farmers were interviewed using structured questionnaires. The results indicated that 56.3% of the farmers have adopted CSA practices. Household size, perceived climate change, and access to climate advisory information positively influenced 70.4% of farmers to adopt crop rotation. Additionally, the farmer's experience (in years) and perception of climate change influenced the adoption of conservation tillage. The study highlights how smallholder-specific characteristics and external influences interact to determine CSA adoption. Moreover, it underscores the need for targeted interventions to promote CSA practices, emphasizing the importance of farmer education, access to climate advisory services, and capacity building. Based on our findings, the policy recommendations include aligning CSA innovations with smallholder preferences and local conditions to enhance adoption rates and strengthen climate resilience in agricultural systems. Policymakers should integrate CSA into Senegalese agricultural policy and develop innovative financing mechanisms to encourage the adoption of adaptation technologies tailored to local contexts to address current and future climate risks. Description: A publication in the Rural Polytechnic Institute of Training and Applied Research (IPR/IFRA) in partnership with the West African Science Service Centre on Climate Change and Adapted Land Use (WASCAL), submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy in Climate Change and Agriculture of the University of Sciences, Techniques and Technologies of Bamako (USTTB)

Influence of Organic and Mineral Fertilizer on Soil Proprieties and Performance of Rice (Oryza sativa) in Casamance, Senegal

2025-02-25T00:00:00Z

Title: Influence of Organic and Mineral Fertilizer on Soil Proprieties and Performance of Rice (Oryza sativa) in Casamance, Senegal Authors: Diedhiou, Pierre Claver Cesar; Sokhna, Pape Samba; Sambou, Antoine; Sissoko, Sory Abstract: Chemical fertilizers are a source of soil degradation. In order to mitigate soil degradation and to face the negative impacts of climate change, the use of organic fertilizers, accessible to small farmers can maintain the productivity of cereals including rice. The objective of this experiment is to study the effect of organo-mineral fertilizers on soil chemical properties, growth and physiology parameters and yield of rice. For this purpose, a completely randomized block design with three replications was adopted. Different organic (Fertinova, Organova and Fertinova + Organova) and mineral (NPK + Urea) fertilizers were applied to cultivate the NERICA L19 variety of rice. The soil chemical properties (pH), germination rate, growth, yield and physiological (chlorophyll content) parameters were assessed. The results revealed a germination rate of the grains varying between 87.5 and 100%. Fertinova and Fertinova + Organova had the highest germination rates. Soil pH decreased significantly from initial (6.71 ± 0.01) to final (5.73 ± 0.04) with the development cycle of the rice. Organo- mineral fertilizers influenced significantly (p = 5.36e−09) soil chemical properties by increasing pH (4%) compared to Control. Analysis of variance on growth and yield parameters, yield and chlorophyll content revealed a significant difference (p < 0.05) between fertilizers. Growth and yield parameters and yield were significantly higher in NPK and Fertinova + Organova than in Fertinova, Organova and Control. For the biomass the NPK + Urea recorded significantly highest biomass (488.28 ± 60.83 g). Leaves chlorophyll content varied significantly according to the daytime and the status of leaf development. The higher chlorophyll content was recorded at noon (27.96 ± 0.32 SPAD value) and with young leaves (30.21 ± 0.35 SPAD value). NPK + Urea (29.36 ± 0.45 SPAD value) and Fertinova (27.78 ± 0.40 SPAD value) favored more chlorophyll content in the rice leaves. Rice performed better in NPK + Urea and Fertinova + Organova fertilizers. Description: A thesis, in the Rural Polytechnic Institute of Training and Applied Research (IPR/IFRA) in partnership with the West African Science Service Centre on Climate Change and Adapted Land Use (WASCAL), submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy in Climate Change and Agriculture of the University of Sciences, Techniques and Technologies of Bamako (USTTB)

Testing Used Tyres as Soil and Water Conservation Control Measures toFavour Circular Economy in Mali

2025-01-03T00:00:00Z

Title: Testing Used Tyres as Soil and Water Conservation Control Measures toFavour Circular Economy in Mali Authors: Katile, Mahamadou Lamine; Bengaly, Aboubakar; Traore, Souleymane Sidi; Rodrigo-Comino, Jesúús; Kasse, Hama Abstract: Microplastics are an emerging global threat in all ecosystems and have potential negative effects through multiple exposurepathways. In Mali, innovations such as the manufacture of chairs, sandals, decorative objects, etc. are being developed to reuse usedtyres in order to combat environmental pollution. The special feature of this study is the experimentation with old tyres inagricultural plots to examine their effects on infiltration, runoff, moisture and soil loss. "Pneusol" works on the basis of gathering oldtyres, cutting them into arcs, and positioning them in the ridges perpendicular to the direction of flows. The experimental set-upcomposed by control plot pair with a “pneusol” plot (30 m long and 10 m wide) has been installed on erosion crusted soil inDjindjila. Each plot has been isolated by corrugated sheets 30 cm high above the ground, embedded 20 cm deep. The results showthe effectiveness of pneusol is quite significant, since it reduces the amount of water runoff by 34%, increase average moisture by22.33% and reduce soil lost by 52.63% compared to control plot. The ability of tyres to limit runoff, improve infiltration and increasesoil moisture, thereby stimulating agricultural production, has been demonstrated in this study. This result offers interestingprospects for farmers who are already experiencing the harmful effects of climate change. The effect of capturing and infiltratingrunoff water, combined with the soil amendment, make “pneusol” an effective agricultural production technique on degraded land, directly from the first year of implementation. Also, the repurposing of used tyres in a circular economy makes it possible to turn apotentially problematic waste into a resource, promoting a more environmentally friendly and long-lasting model. Description: A Publication in the Rural Polytechnic Institute of Training and Applied Research (IPR/IFRA) in partnership with the West African Science Service Centre on Climate Change and Adapted Land Use (WASCAL), submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy in Climate Change and Agriculture of the University of Sciences, Techniques and Technologies of Bamako (USTTB)

Effectiveness of climate information services: an evaluation of the accuracy and socio-economic benefits for smallholder farmers in Niger and Mali

2024-04-17T00:00:00Z

Title: Effectiveness of climate information services: an evaluation of the accuracy and socio-economic benefits for smallholder farmers in Niger and Mali Authors: Bizo, Issiaka M.; Traore, Bouba; Sidibé, Amadou; Soulé, Moussa Abstract: Climate information services are foundational means of building the farmer’s resilience. However, studies are scarce about the accuracy of climate information services in dryland regions such as the West Africa Sahel, like in Mali and Niger. Thus, this study examined the accuracy of climate forecasts and their socio-economic benefits in these two countries. For rainfall forecasts and alerts, we collected the 2022 data from the ‘SMS Sandji’ platform in Mali (Nara) and the national meteorological agency alert database in Niger (Zinder). The socio-economic benefits of climate information were determined using a sample of 900 individuals in Niger and 227 in Mali. The results indicate that both seasonal and daily climate forecasts have high to moderate accuracy from 0.7 to 0.58 for CSI and 0.11 to 0.43 for BS index in Niger, and 0.94 to 0.91 for CSI, and 0.06 to 0.25 for BS in Mali. The results of field survey show that, in general, 87 to 100% of the respondents in Niger and 100% in Mali received the seasonal forecasts. ANOVA also reveals with high significance (p value= 0.0001) that the utilization of climate information plays a crucial role in improving farmers’ average financial incomes with FCFA 24,943 per hectare at season onset to FCFA 15,355 per hectare during the cropping season, and FCFA 6204 per hectare at the end of the season, and time-saving of 36h per hectare to 8h per hectare, depending on the period when the information was used. Globally, this work underscores the importance of climate information services and highlights their positive socio-economic impacts to the livelihood of farmers. Description: A Publication in the Rural Polytechnic Institute of Training and Applied Research (IPR/IFRA) in partnership with the West African Science Service Centre on Climate Change and Adapted Land Use (WASCAL), submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy in Climate Change and Agriculture of the University of Sciences, Techniques and Technologies of Bamako (USTTB)