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The major constraint of livestock farming in Burkina Faso is the feed gap. This study aims to provide information on feed resources, availability, and uses in Bama's district. Feed Assessment Tool (FEAST) was used to evaluate feed resources and to generate possible interventions. Focus groups were held and took into account 140 farmers, of which 90 were recalled for individual surveys. We found that the Bama district was characterized by agropastoral production systems in which crop provides 65.1% of household income whereas 23.9% was from livestock. Livestock feeding throughout the year depended on natural grazing. Natural pastures contributed most often to dry matter, metabolizable energy, and crude protein in animals' total diet, respectively, with 65.4, 64.4, and 61.5%. In addition to grazing, crop residues were collected after harvest to form a dietary supplement for the animals. The study also revealed nutritional gaps, and farmers were purchasing concentrates to compensate and ensure the best livestock productivity. The dominant complement purchased was cotton cake at a rate of 623.1 kg/year/household. None of the agropastoralists grew fodder crops. Identified interventions able to improve productivity and production of animals were supplementations with: a high-energy supplement (molasses); protein byproducts; pruning products, aerial parts, and leaf-stripping without sacrificing grain/tuber yields; cereal byproducts (rice bran, corn, wheat); multi-nutritional blocks; and commercially balanced feed. Given the food shortage, especially in the dry season, better management of food resources through the collection and conservation of fodder and the adoption of forage crops could increase feed availability.

The availability and sustainability of water in rural areas are significant challenges facing agricultural producers in the Sahelian zones. Maize-legume intercropping with a mulch cover for water conservation with drip irrigation is a promising production practice for conserving water, increasing productivity and improving soil health. A randomized complete block trial with 04 replications and 08 treatments was established in Sonsongona (11.2522°N, 4.4559°W), a village located west of Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso. Means separation by analysis of variance (ANOVA) was with RStudio 1.2.1335 software at the 5% threshold according to the Newman-Keuls test. The mulched treatments significantly affect soil moisture, maize growth, weed growth, and important maize yield attributes.

In Burkina Faso, cultivation operations (tillage, sowing, weeding, fertilization, etc.) are mainly carried out by women and young people. Among them, sowing is a particular constraint that determines the success or failure of production. In this country, maize is grown by 78% of producers in the rainy season. In order to improve production, a simple seeder that can be made by local craftsmen was designed as part of the Appropriate Scale Mechanization Consortium (ASMC) project and evaluated with SR21 maize seed in the Koumbia region. It has been harnessed by two oxen. The equipment is evaluated on a plowed plot and on minimum tillage plot. Seed dimensions and distribution disc characteristics were measured. The characteristics of sowing, the traction force and the labor times were measured and compared with those of manual sowing. The results indicate that the sowing time is 3.6 to 3.8 h ha-1, i.e., 8 to 10 times faster than manual practice. The traction force is 22.6 kgf (226 N). That is available for oxen hitch even with one animal. Seed calibration can improve tool performance. The tool has great potential for increasing production if the other production inputs are assured.