Determinants of Adoption of Soil and Water Conservation Techniques in Burkina Faso

Abstract

This study examines the determinants of soil and water conservation (SWC) practices adoption and use-intensity in three agro-ecological zones in Burkina Faso. Logit, Multinonomial logit, and Tobit models are used to examine the factors affecting adoption of za structures (water and silt catchments), stone bunds and manure soil amendment. Across all three models, community prevalence or pressure to adopt conservation practices significantly affected the adoption of two or more of the techniques. This result suggests economies of scale in changing attitudes and prevalence of adoption of techniques through education and extension. Finally, since both agricultural and non-agricultural income increases farmer's likelihood of investing in manure and za techniques, this suggests that there is a role for subsidization of SWC or expanding access to credit. As for the techniques that are labor intensive, access to transportation for materials may prove to aid in adoption of stone bunds.