Floodplains have considerable potential for rice production, off-season vegetable cultivation and livestock rearing in Burkina Faso. The lowlands development program in the South-west region and Sissili ("Programme d'aménagement des bas fonds dans le Sud-Ouest et la Sissili" - PABSO) was designed to contribute to improving food security and reducing poverty in rural areas through better exploitation of this agricultural potential. The program was implemented in four phases. It constructed field embankments that allow water regulation in the rainy season and restore groundwater levels to improve rice and vegetable production. Furthermore, the program established and strengthened small-scale farmers’ organisations, built agro-processing and market-oriented infrastructure and facilitated beneficiaries' financial inclusion.
