Socio-economic characteristics of river oyster harvest in the province of Noumbiel, in the south-west of Burkina Faso

Abstract

The objectives of our study are to describe the organization of a river oyster farm, the exploitation techniques,
to estimate the quantities produced and sold of oysters and to describe the socio-cultural uses of oyster products
in the Noumbiel province. The data were collected through focus groups, interviews and site visits supplemented
by a compilation of bibliography. The results indicate that artisanal oyster harvesting is an off-season
activity that occupies almost the entire working population along the Mouhoun River. Out of the 7261 operators
recorded in the communes of Batié and Legmoin, women represent 51.26%, men 26.46%, young girls and
boys 22.28%. The age of the farmers varies from 13 to 70 years, with a predominance in the 40 to 60 age
group. There is no formal and/or official organization of farmers. It is an activity that is neither supervised nor regulated. The farm contributes to food and nutritional security through oyster meat and generates income
for the farmers and grey traders who resell the shells (70,000 FCFA/tonne) to the poultry industry. The
challenge of this activity, at the local and national levels, deserve special attention, especially the consideration
of this sector in the management of fishery resources.