Working Group 4

1. The difficult water sharing in the Upper Comoé basin (Burkina-Faso) Hervé Lévite IWMI – Burkina FasoEquitable Distribution of Water Rights and AccessCTA November 2010

2. 1. Irrigation in Burkina Recent development after droughts of 70’s 1400 small reservoirs Weak performance New ambition from government A progressive legislation of water sharing But sometime choices are difficult

3. 2.Case study : Upper Comoé basin South West Burkina Rainy season : 3 to 4 months Rain : 1000 mm but uneven and decreasing Surface water only Traditional rice in inland valleys

4. 3. Several users

5. 4. High water demand Deficit mainly during dry season : restrictions for Karfiguela

6. 5. Historical development 08/11/2010 1991 Moussoudougou dam is built Storage: 38 Mm3 1976 Lobi Dam construction storage: 6 Mm3 1982 Toussiana dam is built storage: 6 Mm3 1975 Karfiguela irrigation scheme is built Area: 75 ha 2008 Setup of the CLE for the Upper Comoé basin 1977 Karfiguela Irrigation scheme is completed Area: 350 ha 1968 Launch of the national sugar company: the S0.SU.HV 1992 Launch of the SO.PAL: for alcool production 1998 Privatisation of the sugar company, renamed: SN.SO.SU.CO 2010 Launch of the Water Agency for the Comoé basin in Burkinaso Farmers are asked to leave the future sugar cane fields Farmers receive “instructions” from SOCUCO

7. 6. An unfair competition Private sector in charge of public dams management Weak state control (even in the CLE) Farmers have lost their lands and have little livelihoods alternatives Voice of farmers is not heard pressure from private Sugar Cane industry

8. 7. Tentative comparison of value of water

9. 8. Discussion Good efficiency (sugar) vs Weak water management (Rice) Challenge : can one convinces SOCUCO to release more water Perhaps but first Karfiguela needs to make efforts too WAIPRO aims : to measure and enhance the performances

10. 9. Discussion (cont’) Possible negotiations through CLE and Water agency Help farmers to have a voice Respect the equity principle by State and control Look for solutions : rehabilitate dams use groundwater continue modernization of irrigation promote decision support systems and IWRM