Growing Diversity – West Africa

Read the full reprot in French ( )

TITLE OF EXPERIENCE: The seed conservation system used by farmers in Burkina Faso

AUTHOR: National Federation of Naam Groups

COUNTRY AND REGION: Burkina Faso, Gassan, Kougny, Kaïn et Pobé-Mengao ; Province du Yatenga

ECOLOGICAL ZONE: Sudanese Savannas 

ABSTRACT

The National Federation of Naam Groupings (FNGN) is one of the most important farming organisations in West Africa. It was created in 1967 by Bernard Lédéa OUEDRAOGO, and was recognised as an NGO in 1978. It has offices at all administrative levels in the country: village, district, province and nation. The FNGN works with villagers and collaborates with state organisations and other NGOs.

This study covers four villages: Gassan Kougny, Kaïn and Pobé-Mengao and three provinces: Nanyala, Yatenga and Soum. The ethnicities found there are: Mossi, Bwaba, Samo, Dafing, Peuhl and Dogon. In the Yatenga, people cultivate pearl millet, sorghum, corn, okra, peanut, sorrel and pea. In terms of the conservation of crops for direct consumption or seed production, in ears or as seed, traditional practices require different materials and plant conservation techniques.

Amongst the storage implements used, you get: the variously shaped granaries made of straw or mud to conserve the ears, either loose or in sheafs; earthenware jars of all sorts made with clay mixed with straw which only stores seeds; “canaris”, pots, gourds, bags etc… which are also used to store harvested material for consumption or for seed. To keep away the termites, villagers use residues from shea butter to spread over the granaries, animal excrement, shea cinders, smoke in the huts etc… The head of the family selects the seed and is sometimes related with socio-cultural or religious rituals.

CONTACT:

Fédération Nationale des Groupements Naam , P 100 – Ouahigouya – BURKINA FASO, Tél. 226 55 04 11 / 55 42 92 – Fax 226 55 01 62 Email : fngnagf@fasonet.bf