Assessment of Hydro-Agricultural Infrastructures in Burkina Faso by Using Multiple Correspondence Analysis Approach

Due to the semi-arid nature of the Sahelian countries in Africa, irrigation infrastructures are essential in supporting the improvement of agricultural production. Their proper operation is, therefore, a key indicator for the sustainable development of agriculture in this region. However, there is a lack of critical assessment on the operating state of these hydro-agricultural facilities in Burkina Faso. In this study, we applied a multiple correspondence analysis (MCA) to 4070 hydro-agricultural facilities from 1950 to 2020 and classified them according to the Permanent Interstate Committee for Drought Control in the Sahel's (CILSS) typology classification system (Type 1 to Type 5). The MCA made it possible to see the relationships between a development typology and variables such as "functionality", "condition of the development", or "year of construction". The results indicate that the irrigated lands with surface areas of less than 100 ha, which were funded by the government or organizations (associations, NGOs) and managed by local communities, are the least functional ones and in bad condition. Their dysfunction indeed conceals deep-seated causes that have not yet been resolved as the infrastructures keep on deteriorating. Therefore, establishing a sustainable and efficient management system for these agricultural infrastructures is imperative. The findings of this study can be used as a practical decision-making tool for implementing agricultural policies in the Sahel region.