4 Climate Change and Water Resources in West Africa …
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3.4.1 Changes in Crops and Varieties
Two main government departments provide technical guidance to farmers growing
perennial and food crops in Ivory Coast. Firstly, the National Center for Agronomic
Research (CNRA: Centre National de Recherche Agronomique) is remarkably effective in researching and implementing new plant varieties adapted to local climate
requirements. This department, through its many research sites, innovates in crops
and varieties. For example, in the cocoa sector, several varieties with improved resistance to rainfall and climate variations have emerged. Secondly, the National Rural
Development Support Agency (ANADER: Agence Nationale d’Appui au Dévelopment Rural), another government department, provides support and expertise to
the farming community on the ground, by offering new varieties of cocoa from the
National Center for Agronomic Research (CNRA). These efforts support production
with high yields by using climate-resistant crops. These new, improved varieties of
cocoa are gradually replacing traditional varieties that have been grown in orchards
over thirty years. The ANADER also trains farmers in agroforestry techniques and
codes of conduct, and in the proper use of plant protection products to control pests
and destructive diseases. For instance, cocoa pod mirids have a negative effect on
yield and production. In a food crop sector like yams, both agencies are involved and
help introduce early varieties.
In Benin, the choice of varieties and crops is decisive for harvests. Farmers
use improved seed varieties to adapt food or market-garden production to climate
change—for example, cowpea with four vegetative phases that correspond to variable water requirements. For this reason, farmers are increasingly using early varieties (TVX-1850-01-F) that require 65 days from planting to harvest and semi-late
(IT81D-1137) varieties of 70–80 days, while gradually reducing the use of late varieties (TN98-63) of 90–100 days. Early varieties such as 75-day corn are grown in
some areas to cope with the rainfall deficit. The same is true for the 90-day groundnut
(TS-32-1), which is adopted instead of the 120-day groundnut (69–101). The early 75day corn crop is grown in association with beans at the expense of 90-day corn crops
for the sole purpose of overcoming constraints related to irregular and inadequate
rainfall. Early varieties thus have the advantage of reaching their full development
before the onset of floods or droughts. However, a major limitation of this approach
remains the supply of seeds that doesn’t meet demand.
In Burkina Faso, farmers are abandoning local varieties of cereal such as sorghum,
millet, and corn. The new early varieties do not exceed 60 days to ripen. Creeping
plants of the Cucurbitaceae family are also grown, supported by agricultural research
institutes. The lowlands, which are used for rice-growing during the rainy season, are
exploited for corn production or market gardening in the off-season (GWP 2010).
In Senegal, too, early varieties are preferred. The adoption and diversification of
crop varieties, especially those developed by research institutes such as the Senegalese Institute for Agricultural Research (ISRA: Institut Sénégalais de Recherches
Agricoles), allow farmers to better adapt to the shortening of rainy seasons and
the recurrence of dry spells. Growing cowpeas (Vigna unguiculata) has become
widespread in Senegal because of their quick growth (≤60 days). Souna and IBV
75
3.4.1 Changes in Crops and Varieties
Two main government departments provide technical guidance to farmers growing
perennial and food crops in Ivory Coast. Firstly, the National Center for Agronomic
Research (CNRA: Centre National de Recherche Agronomique) is remarkably effective in researching and implementing new plant varieties adapted to local climate
requirements. This department, through its many research sites, innovates in crops
and varieties. For example, in the cocoa sector, several varieties with improved resistance to rainfall and climate variations have emerged. Secondly, the National Rural
Development Support Agency (ANADER: Agence Nationale d’Appui au Dévelopment Rural), another government department, provides support and expertise to
the farming community on the ground, by offering new varieties of cocoa from the
National Center for Agronomic Research (CNRA). These efforts support production
with high yields by using climate-resistant crops. These new, improved varieties of
cocoa are gradually replacing traditional varieties that have been grown in orchards
over thirty years. The ANADER also trains farmers in agroforestry techniques and
codes of conduct, and in the proper use of plant protection products to control pests
and destructive diseases. For instance, cocoa pod mirids have a negative effect on
yield and production. In a food crop sector like yams, both agencies are involved and
help introduce early varieties.
In Benin, the choice of varieties and crops is decisive for harvests. Farmers
use improved seed varieties to adapt food or market-garden production to climate
change—for example, cowpea with four vegetative phases that correspond to variable water requirements. For this reason, farmers are increasingly using early varieties (TVX-1850-01-F) that require 65 days from planting to harvest and semi-late
(IT81D-1137) varieties of 70–80 days, while gradually reducing the use of late varieties (TN98-63) of 90–100 days. Early varieties such as 75-day corn are grown in
some areas to cope with the rainfall deficit. The same is true for the 90-day groundnut
(TS-32-1), which is adopted instead of the 120-day groundnut (69–101). The early 75day corn crop is grown in association with beans at the expense of 90-day corn crops
for the sole purpose of overcoming constraints related to irregular and inadequate
rainfall. Early varieties thus have the advantage of reaching their full development
before the onset of floods or droughts. However, a major limitation of this approach
remains the supply of seeds that doesn’t meet demand.
In Burkina Faso, farmers are abandoning local varieties of cereal such as sorghum,
millet, and corn. The new early varieties do not exceed 60 days to ripen. Creeping
plants of the Cucurbitaceae family are also grown, supported by agricultural research
institutes. The lowlands, which are used for rice-growing during the rainy season, are
exploited for corn production or market gardening in the off-season (GWP 2010).
In Senegal, too, early varieties are preferred. The adoption and diversification of
crop varieties, especially those developed by research institutes such as the Senegalese Institute for Agricultural Research (ISRA: Institut Sénégalais de Recherches
Agricoles), allow farmers to better adapt to the shortening of rainy seasons and
the recurrence of dry spells. Growing cowpeas (Vigna unguiculata) has become
widespread in Senegal because of their quick growth (≤60 days). Souna and IBV