Title: Factors affecting farmer participation and willingness to pay for farmland conservation and protection programs in Burkina Faso

Authors: Noël Thiombiano; Youmanli Ouoba

Addresses: Economics Department, Center for Economic and Social Studies, Documentation and Research (CEDRES), University of Thomas Sankara, Burkina Faso ' Economics Department, Center for Economic and Social Studies, Documentation and Research (CEDRES), University of Thomas Sankara, Burkina Faso

Abstract: Sustainable management of land is a key issue in Burkina Faso where agriculture accounts for 48% of the GDP of the country. This study aims to identify the factors explaining the decisions of farmers to participate both in the protection and conservation of farmland. A survey of 330 farming households was conducted in the southwest region of the country where land degradation is a key issue for farmers. Using double hurdle models, the results indicate that income, social capital and land ownership are the main determinants of farmers' decisions to participate in farmland protection and conservation. The intensity of this participation depends on the education level of the household head. This study provides evidence that farmers are more sensitive to farmland protection than to its conservation. A policy increasing agricultural income for farmers will enable them to join a local agricultural land management initiative and could encourage them to find endogenous solutions for sustainable land management.

Keywords: farmland protection and conservation; farmer willingness to pay; double hurdle; Burkina Faso.

DOI: 10.1504/IJARGE.2021.119658

International Journal of Agricultural Resources, Governance and Ecology, 2021 Vol.17 No.1, pp.81 - 98

Accepted: 15 Sep 2021
Published online: 13 Dec 2021 *

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