About the Yilou area

History

The village of Yilou is situated in the rural commune of Guibaré in the province of Bam (North Central Region). It is crossed by the national road (RN) n°22 and is located 70 km from Ouagadougou, 36 km from Kongoussi and 10 km from Guibaré department (from which it depends). The population of the commune according to the 2006 administrative census was 23,454, including 3,740 in Yilou. It is composed mainly of Mossi (the indigenous people), Fulani and Yarcé. Religious practices include Animism, Islam, Catholicism and Protestantism. The main income-generating activities practiced by the population are agriculture, animal husbandry, gold panning, trade and handicrafts.

About the area

The rural commune of Guibaré belongs to the Sudano-Sahelian climatic zone with an annual rainfall varying between 500 and 700mm. There are two seasons: a dry season from October to May, with temperatures that can reach 40°C, and a rainy season. The rainfall is irregular with uneven distribution in space and time within the same campaign and from one campaign to another. There are frequent pockets of drought at the beginning of the rainy season and frequent flooding during July and August. The rural commune of Guibaré is characterised by soils that are poor in phosphorus, nitrogen and soil organic matter. It is made up of granitic rocks and has a relatively rugged relief. The vegetation of the rural commune of Guibaré is mainly characterized by gallery forests. The most important woody species encountered are Vitelaria paradoxea, Parkia biglobosa, Lannea microcarpa. Faidherbia albida, Tamarindus indica, Adansonia digitata. In addition to these species, there are vast areas of Acacia senegal and a very important herbaceous strata composed of Andropogon gayanus, Andropogon acinodis, Loudetia togoensis, Scboenefeldia gracilis, Hyptis specigera, Cassia tora. 

There are certain agricultural techniques, such as CES (Conservation of Water and Soil) that allow for land reclamation. These techniques include zaï, half-moons and stone bunds, among others. The main food crops grown are sorghum, millet, cowpea, maize and rice. As cash crops, there are groundnuts, sesame and voandzou. Livestock farming is the second most important economic activity providing income after crops. It is practiced extensively and is characterised by small ruminants and poultry, which dominate the numbers.

Annual rainfall: 680 mm/year
Main ethnic groups: Mossis, Peulh et Yarcé
Study site approximate area: 300 km²
Livestock density: 3 TLU/ha

Experiment

Conservation agriculture, soil fertility management, agroforestry

Contribution of fodder shrubs in agro-sylvo-pastoral production systems in the North Sudanian zone.