Agrochemical lock-in and land tenure insecurity: interacting barriers to agroecological transition in Burkina Faso’s family farming systems

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Résumé

Agroecological transition is essential for achieving food security in sub-Saharan Africa. However, socio-economic and political
barriers to this transition remain largely understudied, particularly in the context of land tenure disparities. This study aims
to assess the influence of land tenure dynamics on current agricultural practices and their role in reinforcing agrochemical
lock-in of family farming during Burkina Faso’s agrarian history. Through participatory mapping and historical interviews,
this study identifies land tenure inequality—shaped by agrarian policies, demographic pressures, and cash crop expansion—
as the primary barrier to agroecological transition. While Boserup’s theory suggests that population growth drives
agricultural intensification, our findings show that state policies promoting mechanization and cash crops have accelerated
this intensification process, leading to more severe soil degradation and shorter fallow periods than demographic pressure
alone would have caused. As a result, both native and migrant farmers have become increasingly reliant on agrochemical
inputs to sustain yields, reinforcing a cycle of environmental degradation and economic dependency. However, land tenure
insecurity disproportionately affects migrant farmers, preventing them from making long-term investments in sustainable
agroecological practices. To break this cycle, securing long-term land access—particularly for migrant farmers—is essential
for enabling sustainable agricultural development. Without addressing land tenure disparities, the agroecological transition
in sub-Saharan Africa will remain hindered by structural constraints that reinforce dependence on agrochemical inputs and
mechanization. Policy interventions must integrate tenure security with ecological intensification strategies to promote
resilient family farming systems.

Mots-clés

Agroecology, Boserup theory, Demographic pressure, Agrarian change, Sustainable development, Sub- Saharan Africa