Long-term field trial of Saria leading to a sustainable agricultural production and food system in sub-Saharan Africa
Current political and scientific debates around the world centre on the sustainability of agricultural systems. The conference “Comparing organic and conventional agricultural cropping systems - What can be learned from the DOK and other long-term trials?” was an opportunity to learn and share knowledge about sustainability of agricultural systems. The conference showed that most agricultural systems in the world have their advantages and limitations. To meet the needs of agricultural production without compromising the needs of future generations within the limits of ecosystems, agricultural systems can learn from each other. Long-term experiments can be used to capture and understand the drivers of soil fertility change and to improve management practices.
Saria's long-term field trial in Burkina Faso generates knowledge for sustainable agricultural production
As a member of the management committee of the long-term field trial of Saria (LTFT-Saria), I always like to refer to this trial at scientific meetings as a house of knowledge for sustainable agriculture in Africa. This trial was set up in 1960 in the Centre-West Burkina Faso. Like other long-term field trials in Africa, it continuously provides evidence that changes in soil productivity depend on the management practices. Therefore, LTFT-Saria helps to raise awareness and develop solutions to improve agricultural cropping systems and subsequently contribute to Burkina Faso's sustainable development goals. Research conducted on LTFT-Saria since its implementation highlight: (i) the importance of organic amendments for the long-term production of sorghum, cotton and cowpea, (ii) the importance of crop rotation, particularly rotation with legumes such as cowpea, for the long-term production of sorghum, (iii) the importance and limitation of the use of mineral and/or organic amendments and crop rotation in achieving sustainable agricultural production. LTFT-Saria focuses on crops that are important for food and income generation. Indeed, sorghum is a staple cereal for most households in Burkina Faso, while cowpea is both a staple and cash crop for them. Cotton is the main cash crop in Burkina Faso. As such, it contributes to the generation of income that can be used to purchase food and other non-food items.
Saria’s long-term field trial and human capacity building for sustainable agricultural production
Can we really talk about agricultural sustainability without talking about capacity building of all the actors involved in the process? LTFT-Saria, in addition to providing a stock of knowledge for sustainable agricultural production, plays an enormous role in capacity building. Indeed, it acts as an observatory for national and international researchers and as a field school for farmers. Furthermore, it has served and continues to serve for training of many BSc, MSc and PhD students.
As recommended at the conference “Comparing Organic and Conventional Cropping Systems - What can be learned from DOK and other long-term trials?” Saria-LTFT, like other long-term field trials around the world, will continuously provide knowledge on agricultural sustainability through interdisciplinary studies and will also contribute to metadata analysis. This contribution to a sustainable agriculture definitely concerns the food system in Africa and worldwide. We therefore have the difficult task of ensuring the continuation of LTFT-Saria and leaving it to future generations.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Mariam KIBA/SOMA Dohan is a researcher at the “Institut de l’Environnement et de Recherches Agricoles” (INERA) in Burkina Faso. Her research aims to contribute to a sustainable management of soil fertility for improving agricultural production through suitable use of rock phosphate and organic amendments. She is currently leading two long term experiments related to soil fertility management in Burkina Faso. She holds a PhD degree in soil sciences from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Ghana and is a 2019 African Women in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD) Fellow.
I am grateful to the conference organizers and to the “Bureau de la Coopération Suisse” (BUCO) for funding my participation to the conference “Comparing Organic and Conventional Cropping Systems - What can be learned from DOK and other long-term trials?”