Investigating the Constraints Limiting the Contribution of the National Cashew Producers Union (FO) in Improving the Productivity of the Cashew-Based Agroforestry Systems in Burkina Faso (West Africa)

The producer organisations contribute to improving agricultural productivity. This research investigated the constraints limiting the contribution of the national cashew producer’s Union (FO) in the productivity of the cashew-based agroforestry systems (AF) to help in the planning of future interventions for increasing AF productivity through FO. The study was conducted in the 04 main regions of cashew production. The data relating to the FO characterisation, operation, services and quality and new service delivery expected by the members were collected using the surveys through 33 individual producers and 118 producers through 7 focus groups totalling 151 respondents. The lack of communication, the low education level, the low memberships and memberships fees, the low women memberships, the lack of the supervisory board, the large geographical cover and producer members and the responsible selection method were the identified constraints related to the structure, characterisation and operation that could reduce the FO contribution in AF productivity. The FO services delivery contributes to AF productivity, but they need to be strengthened through providing new services such as producers’ access to credit, building the producers’ resilience to climate change, construction of storage facilities and increasing memberships for a greater impact on AF productivity. The FO should increase the service delivery related to group sales for FO to improve AF productivity. The results of this research could serve the actors interested in improving productivity through farmers’ groups in the planning of their future interventions for increasing AF productivity through the FO