Vegetable crop residues: an opportunity to bridge dry-season feed gaps in Sub-Saharan Africa – Frontiers

Report on the Utilization of Vegetable Crop Residues for Sustainable Livestock Management in Burkina Faso

1.0 Introduction: Addressing Fodder Scarcity and Climate Change

In Burkina Faso, livestock production faces significant challenges from seasonal fodder deficits, a situation intensified by the impacts of climate change. This report details a study conducted in the Guiriko region, which investigated the use of vegetable crop residues (VCR) as a supplementary feed source. This practice represents a critical local adaptation strategy that directly supports several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those related to food security, poverty reduction, and climate action.

• Challenge: Recurrent quantitative and qualitative deficits of fodder biomass during the dry season.
• Contributing Factor: Climate change exacerbates fodder scarcity.
• Proposed Solution: Utilization of VCR from intensive vegetable production.
• Core Objective: To characterize VCR utilization practices to inform strategies that enhance agricultural sustainability and resilience, aligning with SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) and SDG 13 (Climate Action).

2.0 Methodology

A survey was conducted among 243 farmers in the Guiriko locality of western Burkina Faso. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire. To identify distinct farming systems and practices, a principal component analysis was performed, followed by hierarchical clustering.

3.0 Key Findings: Farmer Classification and VCR Utilization Practices

The analysis identified three distinct categories of agricultural producers based on their primary activities and livestock management practices.

1. Market Gardeners: Primarily focused on vegetable cultivation.
2. Agro-pastoralists: Engaged in an integrated system of crop farming and livestock rearing.
3. Livestock Farmers: Predominantly focused on animal husbandry.

3.1 Patterns of VCR Use

The study revealed widespread use of VCR as animal feed across all farmer groups, demonstrating a key local contribution to SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) through the recycling of agricultural by-products.

• Most Preferred Residues: Green bean haulms (GBL) and sweet potato vines were universally used (100% of producers).
• Commonly Used Residues: Cucumber residues were also frequently utilized, especially by market gardeners.
• Feeding and Processing Methods:
  • The primary method of feeding was open grazing on harvested fields.
  • Agro-pastoralists frequently dried and stored GBL and cabbage leaves for later use in barns, enhancing feed availability.
  • Sweet potato vines were often sold and transported to urban centers, creating an economic linkage that supports SDG 1 (No Poverty).
• Prioritized Livestock: VCR were strategically allocated to the most vulnerable or productive animals, including weak livestock, lactating cows, draft animals, and calves. This practice underscores the functional importance of VCR in maintaining herd health and productivity, a cornerstone of achieving SDG 2 (Zero Hunger).

4.0 Contribution to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The recycling of VCR into livestock feed is a powerful example of a circular economy in practice, offering a low-cost, high-impact solution that advances multiple SDGs.

• SDG 1 (No Poverty) & SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth): VCR utilization reduces feed costs for smallholder farmers, improving the profitability of livestock enterprises. The sale of residues like sweet potato vines provides an additional income stream, enhancing economic resilience.
• SDG 2 (Zero Hunger): By providing a crucial feed source during the dry season, VCR ensures the survival and productivity of livestock, which are vital for household nutrition (milk, meat) and agricultural activities (draft power). This directly improves food security and supports sustainable agricultural systems.
• SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production): The practice transforms agricultural “waste” into a valuable resource, minimizing waste and promoting a circular flow of nutrients within the farming system.
• SDG 13 (Climate Action) & SDG 15 (Life on Land): Utilizing VCR reduces the pressure on natural grazing lands, helping to prevent overgrazing and land degradation. It is a key adaptation strategy to climate-induced fodder shortages. Furthermore, improving feed quality can lead to more efficient livestock production, potentially reducing greenhouse gas emissions per unit of product.

5.0 Recommendations for Future Action

To maximize the benefits of VCR utilization and further align the practice with global sustainability targets, the following actions are recommended:

1. Conduct Nutritional Analysis: Undertake comprehensive laboratory analyses to determine the chemical composition and nutritional value of different VCR. This data is essential for formulating balanced and efficient feeding strategies.
2. Optimize Feeding Strategies: Develop and disseminate best practices for VCR processing, storage, and feeding to improve animal productivity, which will enhance contributions to SDG 2.
3. Quantify Environmental Benefits: Research the potential of optimized VCR-based diets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from livestock, providing measurable data for progress on SDG 13.
4. Promote Integrated Systems: Encourage policies and extension services that support integrated crop-livestock management, recognizing VCR recycling as a cornerstone of sustainable and resilient agriculture in the region.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 2: Zero Hunger

  The article focuses on improving livestock feeding to enhance animal productivity, which is crucial for food security and supporting the livelihoods of smallholder farmers in Burkina Faso.

• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

  The core theme is the recycling and reuse of vegetable crop residues (VCR) as animal fodder, which directly addresses sustainable management of resources and waste reduction.

• SDG 13: Climate Action

  The article identifies climate change as a factor exacerbating fodder shortages and suggests that improved feeding strategies using VCR can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions from livestock, contributing to climate change mitigation and adaptation.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• Under SDG 2 (Zero Hunger):
  • Target 2.3: Double the agricultural productivity and incomes of small-scale food producers. The study focuses on improving feeding for livestock owned by smallholder farmers (“agro-pastoralists,” “market gardeners,” and “livestock farmers”), which aims to enhance their animal productivity and, consequently, their economic stability.
  • Target 2.4: Ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices. The use of VCR is presented as a resilient practice to cope with dry-season fodder shortages, which are “exacerbated by climate change,” and promotes “integrated crop-livestock management.”
• Under SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production):
  • Target 12.5: By 2030, substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse. The article’s central proposal is the “recycling” of VCR as fodder, which turns agricultural waste into a valuable resource, thereby reducing overall waste.
• Under SDG 13 (Climate Action):
  • Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards. Using VCR is an adaptation strategy for farmers to build resilience against climate-induced fodder scarcity during the dry season.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• For Targets 2.3 and 2.4:
  • Implied Indicator: Proportion of agricultural area under productive and sustainable agriculture. The article’s survey of 243 farmers to characterize “the practices of VCR utilization” implies a measurement of the adoption rate of this sustainable practice. The finding that “green bean haulms (GBL: 100%) and sweet potato vines (100%) being preferred by nearly all producers” serves as a baseline measure of adoption for specific residues.
  • Implied Indicator: Improvement in animal productivity. The article suggests that better feeding strategies would “improve animal productivity.” Progress could be measured by tracking metrics like milk yield from lactating cows or weight gain in calves, which are mentioned as primary recipients of VCR.
• For Target 12.5:
  • Implied Indicator: National recycling rate, tons of material recycled. The study’s focus on the widespread use of VCR implies a measure of recycling. The percentage of farmers using specific residues (e.g., 100% for green bean haulms) can be seen as a proxy for the recycling rate of this specific waste stream within the studied community.
• For Target 13.1:
  • Mentioned Indicator: Reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. The article explicitly states that better feeding strategies could “contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions per unit of livestock product.” This provides a direct, measurable indicator for climate action progress.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: frontiersin.org