Co-design of diversified sorghum-based cropping systems with smallholder farmers in North-Sudanian Burkina Faso

Abstract Farmers in the North-Sudanian zone of Burkina Faso face significant soil fertility challenges, which hinder crop productivity. Co-design approaches are increasingly employed to address cropping system performance by involving farmers in adapting their cropping systems. However, farmers’ usual cropping systems are often overlooked, despite their potential for improvement. This study addressed this shortcoming by integrating a quantitative agronomic assessment with farmers’ qualitative evaluation in a co-design process. To our knowledge, this is the first study to systematically compare farmers’ usual systems, research team-proposed systems, and re-designed systems incorporating farmers’ adaptations. Using the Describe, Explain, Explore, Design approach, farmers participated in the co-design of sorghum-based cropping systems from 2021 to 2023. Three annual cycles of the co-design process were conducted, each involving a demonstration, evaluation, and re-design phase. On-farm trials tested research-proposed, farmers’ usual, and re-designed systems. Farmers evaluated the systems performance through ranking and multicriteria scoring. Results revealed that research team–proposed systems did not consistently outperform farmers’ usual cropping systems in terms of average grain yield. However, re-designed systems achieved significant yield increases for sorghum and cowpea in 2023. Farmers’ ranking of the systems did not always align with yield performance, as they also considered other factors, such as labor requirements and adaptability. The row intercropping systems proposed by the research team was evaluated more favorably than farmers’ usual intercropping system as the latter is more labor demanding. Conversely, the farmers’ usual rotational system was preferred over the rotation systems proposed by the research team as the latter integrated legumes that are not used for human consumption. The study underscores the importance of labor demand for farmers. We conclude that incorporating farmers’ usual cropping systems into co-design, while considering farmers’ context, effectively addresses constraints and supports transformation toward sustainability, resilience, and improved livelihoods.