Agroforestry in the Sahel: Recommendations for Enriching Soils, Enhancing Yields, Boosting Animal Health.

As the SustainSahel project draws to a close, we are proud to present a collection of field-tested, farmer-approved strategies for sustainable agriculture in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Senegal. Developed over five years through close collaboration among farmers, researchers, and innovation platforms, these practices offer practical, low-cost solutions to the pressing challenges facing Sahelian farming: soil degradation, declining yields, weed pressure, livestock feed shortages, desertification, and climate change.

Rooted in local knowledge and scientific research, these approaches have been co-created with farming communities across seven regional study sites. They are designed to be accessible, adaptable, and immediately useful—whether you’re looking to restore soil health, secure water for crops, or provide nutritious fodder during the dry season, sometimes with added medicinal benefits.

In this guide, we focus on concrete agroforestry practices, organized by key themes to make them easy to apply in your fields. Want to learn more? We’ve included extra materials to support your journey toward sustainable farming. The final section provides scientific insights and fresh ideas for extension work. 

These recommendations are not prescriptions, but options to consider, adapt, and build upon.

We gratefully acknowledge the contributions of all SustainSahel researchers, farmers, and institutions whose publications, data, and expertise formed the foundation. 

Research was conducted across Mali, Burkina Faso, and Senegal in seven regional study sites. The recommendations are based on findings from research institutions, including IER and IPR/IFRA (Mali), Uni Nazi Boni and INERA (Burkina Faso), CSE and ISRA (Senegal), Uni Hohenheim and Uni Kassel (Germany), as well as CIRAD, FiBL, IRD, and local producer groups.