74
P. Sagna et al.
increase in rainfall has allowed an increase in milk production, particularly between
2009 and 2010, with 2% more than the 2005–2010 average (Sambou 2015).
3.3.3 Impacts of Rainfall Variation on Inland Fisheries
With the reduction of volume and area of water bodies following unfavorable changes
in climate parameters, production of inland fisheries has declined in the countries
from which information is available. In Ivory Coast, fish production in Béoumi (on
the left bank of Lake Kossou) decreased from 1,142 tons in 2009 to 320 tons in
2015, according to the Departmental Agency of the Ministry of Animal and Fish
Production (MPAH 2016). This magnitude represents a threat to self-sufficiency and
food security in that area. Burkina Faso, which has more than 200,000 hectares of
surface water including rivers and ponds, and 1,450 dammed lakes and reservoirs that
can be used for fishing and fish production in general (Bationo 2015), is similarly
affected. Indeed, precipitation fluctuation, fill rate of water bodies, drying up of
waterways, disappearance of certain species, and the opening of the flood evacuation
valves that facilitates the migration of fish are factors that help explain decline in
production. In Senegal, inland fish catches are estimated at 37,000 tons in 1999.
This activity is practiced in both freshwater and brackish water (MPTM 2001). Fish
farming has been integrated with rice production since the 1900s (Niane and Ndong
2015). The decline in inland fish catches is mainly due to droughts and changes in river
flow rates. Dams, overexploitation, dilapidated pirogue fleets, fishing techniques, etc.,
are other disabling factors (MPTM 2001).
3.4 Adaptation Strategies
West African populations have been grappling with rainfall variability for a long time.
As a consequence, people have developed strategies to find water in all seasons,
regardless of precipitation volume and temporal distribution. These initiatives are
now supported by states and international institutions.
In the Sahelian zone, water collection technologies are many. Farmers collect
rainwater from roofs and channel spring water to reservoirs. In case of drought,
stored water is used for about five months, depending on the capacity of the tank
(Ajani et al. 2013). In vegetable gardens, water is stored in basins fed by PVC pipes
connected to water pumps. This technique reduces water loss compared to irrigation
canals (Nkwade et al. 2014). Water can also be stored in retention basins. In BoboDioulasso, residents use pumps and increase the depth of wells to address a lack
of water (Toe 2014). In Senegal, the deepening and cleaning out of wells ensure a
continuous water supply (UICN 2011).
P. Sagna et al.
increase in rainfall has allowed an increase in milk production, particularly between
2009 and 2010, with 2% more than the 2005–2010 average (Sambou 2015).
3.3.3 Impacts of Rainfall Variation on Inland Fisheries
With the reduction of volume and area of water bodies following unfavorable changes
in climate parameters, production of inland fisheries has declined in the countries
from which information is available. In Ivory Coast, fish production in Béoumi (on
the left bank of Lake Kossou) decreased from 1,142 tons in 2009 to 320 tons in
2015, according to the Departmental Agency of the Ministry of Animal and Fish
Production (MPAH 2016). This magnitude represents a threat to self-sufficiency and
food security in that area. Burkina Faso, which has more than 200,000 hectares of
surface water including rivers and ponds, and 1,450 dammed lakes and reservoirs that
can be used for fishing and fish production in general (Bationo 2015), is similarly
affected. Indeed, precipitation fluctuation, fill rate of water bodies, drying up of
waterways, disappearance of certain species, and the opening of the flood evacuation
valves that facilitates the migration of fish are factors that help explain decline in
production. In Senegal, inland fish catches are estimated at 37,000 tons in 1999.
This activity is practiced in both freshwater and brackish water (MPTM 2001). Fish
farming has been integrated with rice production since the 1900s (Niane and Ndong
2015). The decline in inland fish catches is mainly due to droughts and changes in river
flow rates. Dams, overexploitation, dilapidated pirogue fleets, fishing techniques, etc.,
are other disabling factors (MPTM 2001).
3.4 Adaptation Strategies
West African populations have been grappling with rainfall variability for a long time.
As a consequence, people have developed strategies to find water in all seasons,
regardless of precipitation volume and temporal distribution. These initiatives are
now supported by states and international institutions.
In the Sahelian zone, water collection technologies are many. Farmers collect
rainwater from roofs and channel spring water to reservoirs. In case of drought,
stored water is used for about five months, depending on the capacity of the tank
(Ajani et al. 2013). In vegetable gardens, water is stored in basins fed by PVC pipes
connected to water pumps. This technique reduces water loss compared to irrigation
canals (Nkwade et al. 2014). Water can also be stored in retention basins. In BoboDioulasso, residents use pumps and increase the depth of wells to address a lack
of water (Toe 2014). In Senegal, the deepening and cleaning out of wells ensure a
continuous water supply (UICN 2011).