Assessing crop–livestock water productivity in mixed-farming systems across climatic zones of Burkina Faso

Abstract

Climate change adversely impacts food and feed production, depletes water, and increases the vulnerability of the people living within arid and semi-arid areas. The current study aims to assess crop–livestock water productivity within such drought-recurrent or water-stressed regions. This was done through secondary data collection and interviews from 589 households across the Sudan, Sudan–Sahel, and Sahel climatic zones of Burkina Faso. The findings confirm that the feeding strategies of livestock were based essentially on natural pasture, crop residues, and agricultural by-products. Moreover, crop–livestock total water productivity (TWP) was found generally higher in the Sudan zone (0.29 ± 0.02 $US/m3) characterized by more favorable climatic conditions than the Sudan–Sahel and Sahel regions that experienced a similar TWP (0.21 ± 0.01 $US/m3). The research gives insight into the valuation of virtual water contained in livestock feeds. Improving the accessibility in quantity and quality of such feeds through informed policy actions could enhance returns on transpired water. Additionally, other water harvesting and conservation methods are also essential to sustain more productive crop–livestock systems within water-stressed regions like Burkina Faso. HIGHLIGHTS Water productivity in the mixed-crop–livestock system varied with the climatic gradient from the Sudanian zone to the Sahelian zone.; Appropriate use of virtual water contained in crop residues contributes to better-transpired water productivity.; Policy actions must support accessibility in quantity and quality to animal feed to ensure more yields per drop of water.;

Keywords

• evapotranspired water
• mixed-crop–livestock system
• water productivity