Climate variability and sesame production in the rural community of Bérégadougou, Burkina Faso

Abstract

In Burkina Faso, sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) is the second most important export crop after cotton. In the rural commune of Bérégadougou, it is the second most important cash crop after groundnuts. This oilseed is essentially a rainfed crop and is there-fore largely dependent on rainfall. The aim of this article is to analyze sesame production in a context of climatic variability. To achieve this, the research methodology is based on a global geographical approach that integrates meteorological data (1991-2021), climatic parameters and fieldwork. The results show a rainfall pattern with a rainy season (May to October) and a dry season (November to April). Inter-annual rainfall trends over the analysis period show that rainfall is always above 500mm, whatever the year. Similarly, whatever the year, the average temperature is always above 27°C. These variations in rainfall and temperature have no impact on sesame production. Family farmers also gave 92% of their produce as evidence of their acceptance of climatic variability.

Keywords

• burkina faso
• bérégadougou commune
• climate variability
• sesame
• farmers' perception