Valorisation of animal waste through biodigesters in the Northern Region

The Animal Waste Valorisation Project (PRO.VA.D.A) operates in the commune of La Toden, Passoré Province, located in Burkina Faso’s Northern Region, 100 km from the capital, Ouagadougou, where ASE is headquartered.

Bushfires and agricultural pressure have destroyed the grass cover of this shrub-savanna region. Poor agricultural soil yields, low animal productivity due to free-ranging livestock, malnutrition and health issues, as well as insufficient income to purchase lighting equipment, prompted ASE to design this project aimed at converting animal waste into renewable energy, through the installation of 35 biodigesters and the rehabilitation of forest ecosystems through Farmer-Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR) activities.

ASE, a small environmental association focused on climate and soil issues, benefits from support such as the GEF Small Grants Programme. It will draw technical and financial support from a large-scale renewable energy support programme, the National Biodigester Programme (PNB), funded by Hivos and SNV (Dutch cooperation), which is already installing biodigesters across all regions of Burkina Faso.

The project’s direct beneficiaries are estimated at 350 people (8-10 direct family members per digester), with indirect beneficiaries estimated at 600 people.

The promotion of biogas use aims to reduce local populations’ dependence on firewood, helping preserve forest stands. In addition, reducing livestock pressure on vegetation cover — as animals are kept in stables — will promote its regeneration. Finally, animal waste collected from stables will supply the biodigesters, and the use of the resulting effluent as manure will help improve soil fertility and increase crop yields (potatoes, onions, tomatoes, cabbage, lettuce).