Agroecology proves a win for Burkina Faso farmers, report finds
OUAGADOUGOU, August 15, 2026 — A recent report by Altus Impact, Groundswell International and the Association Nourrir Sans Détruire [ANSD] finds that agroecological practices are delivering better results for farmers in Burkina Faso, including in drought-stricken areas, with producers recording higher crop yields and improved financial outcomes.
The report, Transformational Agroecology in Burkina Faso, provides evidence that agroecological practices can help build more resilient farms and improve farmers’ livelihoods.
Extreme rainfall, flooding, severe droughts, armed conflict and deforestation are contributing to widespread land degradation, displacement and food insecurity in the landlocked West African country. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees reports that more than 2 million people were internally displaced in Burkina Faso at the end of 2024.
“It was important for us to create this assessment now to show evidence that agroecology can not only feed the growing population thanks to its ability to significantly increase farm yield, but also augment farmers’ and their households’ revenue,” Tsuamba Bourgou, Groundswell International’s West Africa Regional Coordinator said.
The authors analysed data from more than 400 small-scale farming households in eastern Burkina Faso, comparing per-hectare profitability across different farming approaches, ranging from conventional agriculture to early and advanced agroecological practices.
Farmers practising advanced agroecology — defined as using three or more practices such as zaï, half-moons, low tillage, avoiding residue burning, stone contour barriers and Farmer-Managed Natural Regeneration of trees — recorded yields that were 77 per cent higher than those of conventional farmers and nearly twice those of farmers at the beginning of their transition to agroecology.
According to the report, 80 per cent of Burkinabè depend on farming and pastoralism for their livelihoods. Yields, food security and farmer income are therefore critical measures of agricultural success.
Advanced agroecological farmers performed significantly better on these measures. They had median food stocks of 300kg, three times those of farmers still in transition, and were far less likely to have run out of food during the previous year — 13 percent compared with 45 percent.
They also carried significantly less debt, averaging US$ 8 compared with US$ 35 among farmers using fewer agroecological practices, while demonstrating greater creditworthiness with rural banks and other financial institutions.
“It enables income diversification [crops, forest products, livestock] and ensures a decent standard of living,” Ali Dianou, co-author of the report and Executive Director of ANSD, told Food Tank. “Farmers who adopt these practices have less debt and better financial solvency.”
Farmers practising advanced agroecology recorded net incomes that were 67 percent higher than those of farmers using few or no agroecological practices.
Agroecology also offers environmental benefits, helping vulnerable farming communities remain on their land despite increasingly difficult climate conditions and potentially reducing climate-related displacement.
The report found that agroecological farming contributed to soil regeneration, improving soil health, fixing nitrogen and encouraging stronger root systems that are less vulnerable to erosion. These changes help retain soil moisture and provide greater protection against both drought stress and flooding.
Groundswell International, ANSD and Altus Impact aim to scale up agroecological practices at the territorial level, using the report’s findings to support advocacy and community sensitisation. The report has already been widely shared among non-governmental organisations.
Looking ahead, Dianou outlined several long-term goals for ANSD, including developing a national agroecology strategy for Burkina Faso. The organisation also aims to redirect public funding from chemical fertilisers towards organic alternatives, while attracting private investment through blended finance and risk-mitigation instruments.
The organisations hope the approach will place farmers at the centre of agricultural knowledge development, drawing on indigenous practices and local knowledge.
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