Local people hold the key to solving Burkina Faso’s water challenges

Thanks to its usually abundant rice production, the Kou River Valley has for decades been known as Burkina Faso’s granary. But then the water stopped flowing.

The river is running dry, with local experts blaming climate change and extensive farming on the riverbanks, as well as growing demand for and poor management of water. The canal that normally delivers water to the valley’s farmers, fishers and families becomes nothing but a trickle during the dry season, which starts in October…