New risks in Sudanian agricultural lowlands. A case study in Burkina Faso

In the southwest region of Burkina Faso rich in lowlands, these represent a facet of inundable, fertile landscape with an insurance function through production in a humid environment and in the off-season. Lowland activities help reducing the vulnerability of the most exposed groups, such as small farms, women and youth, but land tenure remains unstable. It is also a particularly changing landscape with collective hydraulic development actions to enhance rice and vegetable production. The current prevailing climatic change conditions mitigate the drought hazard except at the beginning of the season, and a new flooding risk has arisen. These trends exacerbate the vagaries of the water regime, limiting yields and requiring innovations in the technical and organizational aspects, taking into account social and environmental functions of lowlands.