Reviving traditions

Farmers in Burkina Faso's central
plateau in Sahel, are turning to traditional practices such as building
stone lines, pocket-like pits known
as Zaiand permeable stone dams.
These increase yields by as much as
80 percent in some of the farms by
preventing draining of water,
increasing its seepage into soil
and by adding extra nutrients.
Permeable stone dams built by
placing stones across gullies hold
back soil and water. The use of straw
and cut-grass mulch also increases
the output. These techniques
not only increase productivity
but also revive dried-up wells and
trees (Asian Institute of Rural
Development (AIRD) News, Vo114,
No8).