In the News

2024 World of Difference Award

Wed, 13 Nov 2024 15:29:43 GMT

At FarmSahel, we are incredibly proud of Madjalia’s achievement

Congratulations Madjalia!

We are thrilled to announce that our Executive Director, Madjalia Seynou, has been honored with the World of Difference Award by The International Alliance for Women. This prestigious award recognizes her exceptional dedication to empowering women economically and making a meaningful impact in the world.

At FarmSahel, we are incredibly proud of Madjalia’s achievement. This award reflects not only her commitment but also the hard work of our entire team in supporting smallholder women farmers in Burkina Faso. Through her leadership, FarmSahel has provided thousands of women with the resources, training, and support needed to improve food security, increase income, and lift their communities out of poverty.

Empower Women. Transform Communities.

Congratulations, Madjalia! Your leadership inspires us every day. Let’s continue to empower women and create lasting change together.

Public Interest Registry Names FarmSahel as 2024 .ORG Impact Awards Finalist

Wed, 14 Aug 2024 18:36:27 GMT

FarmSahel is one of 35 finalists selected from over 1,700 applications from around the world!

On August 13, 2024, Public Interest Registry (PIR), the organization behind the .ORG domain, proudly announced that FarmSahel has been selected as a finalist for the 2024 .ORG Impact Awards. This esteemed global awards program honors exceptional mission-driven individuals and organizations worldwide for their significant contributions to society.

Chosen from over 1,700 applications spanning nearly 90 countries, FarmSahel stood out for its efforts to unlock the potential of Sahel communities to achieve economic freedom through sustainable permaculture.

All winners will be revealed at an in-person awards ceremony on October 8 in Washington, D.C. Finalists from around the world will gather for the event, with each receiving a donation of $2,500 USD. Additionally, all finalists, including FarmSahel, will compete for larger donations ranging from $10,000 to $50,000 USD.

The 35 finalists represent the top five entries in each of the seven award categories:

● Community Building

● Quality Education for All

● Environmental Stewardship

● Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

● Health and Healing

● Hunger and Poverty

● Rising Stars (leaders under 25 making a difference in their communities)

FarmSahel is a finalist in the Hunger and Poverty category. Winners across all categories, including the prestigious .ORG of the Year, will be announced during the .ORG Impact Awards celebration on October 8.

The .ORG of the Year winner will receive a $50,000 USD donation, while winners of the other categories will each receive $10,000 USD. Beyond the financial award, the recognition from the .ORG Impact Awards will help elevate the profiles of winning organizations, boosting donations, funding, talent acquisition, partnership development, and audience reach.

Water in Ouda!

Wed, 27 Mar 2024 20:08:48 GMT

From the community of the village of Ouda to you: Thank you!

Dear Supporters,

We wanted to take a moment to express our deepest gratitude to The PEF's generous contributions towards digging a water well for the women farmers of Ouda village. Your support has truly made a significant impact on the lives of these hardworking individuals and their entire community.

Thanks to your donations, the women farmers of Ouda now have access to clean drinking water, which is essential for their health and well-being. Moreover, the availability of irrigation systems will enable them to cultivate off-season vegetables, increasing their crop yields and improving their livelihoods. Your generosity has empowered these women to practice sustainable farming and secure a brighter future for themselves and their families.

We cannot emphasize enough the profound difference your donations have made. Through your kindness and compassion, you have brought hope and positive change to a community that greatly needed it. Your belief in our mission and your willingness to contribute have truly touched our hearts.

On behalf of the women farmers of Ouda village, we extend our heartfelt appreciation for your support. Your kindness has inspired us to continue working tirelessly to improve the lives of those in need. We will keep you updated on the progress of the water well project and its ongoing impact on the community.

Once again, thank you for your incredible generosity and for being champions of positive change. Your support has made a lasting difference, and we are forever grateful.

With sincere gratitude,

Madjalia Seynou

Executive Director

FarmSahel

Women’s World Summit Foundation (WWSF) Names Madjalia Seynou, Founder and Executive Director of FarmSahel as 2023 Women Creativity in Rural Life Awardee

Fri, 13 Oct 2023 19:46:49 GMT

Our Executive Director, Madjalia Seynou, has been honored with the prestigious 2023 Women Creativity in Rural Life Award by the Women’s World Summit Foundation (WWSF)

This recognition is a testament to her dedication and passion for sustainable rural development.

We owe a huge thanks to Anna Taft of the Tandana Foundation for nominating Madjalia for this Award, and to all the mentors and supporters who have played a vital role in this journey.

A special shoutout to our outstanding FarmSahel team on the ground, whose hard work and commitment have yielded remarkable results. This achievement is a reflection of your unwavering dedication.

Let's not forget the remarkable women beneficiaries of FarmSahel, whose tireless efforts and eagerness to learn have been instrumental in making this milestone possible.

This award marks a new chapter, and we look forward to many more accolades in the future. Together, we'll continue to empower rural women and build sustainable communities.

Water in Simbri!

Wed, 21 Jun 2023 15:56:59 GMT

Dear Donors,

We wanted to take a moment to express our deepest gratitude for your generous contributions towards digging a water well for the women farmers of Simbri village in Bindé. Your support has truly made a significant impact on the lives of these hardworking individuals and their entire community.

Thanks to your donations, the women farmers now have access to clean drinking water, which is essential for their health and well-being. Moreover, the availability of irrigation systems will enable them to cultivate off-season vegetables, enhancing their crop yields and livelihoods. Your compassionate act has empowered these women to achieve sustainable farming practices and secure a brighter future for themselves and their families.

We cannot emphasize enough the profound difference your donations have made. Through your kindness and generosity, you have brought hope and positive change to a community that greatly needed it. Your belief in our cause and your willingness to contribute have truly touched our hearts.

On behalf of the women farmers of Simbri village, we extend our heartfelt appreciation for your support. Your kindness and empathy have inspired us to continue working tirelessly to improve the lives of those in need. We will keep you updated on the progress of the water well project and its impact on the community.

Once again, thank you for your incredible generosity and for being champions of positive change. Your support has made a lasting difference, and we are forever grateful.

With sincere gratitude,

Madjalia Seynou

Executive Director

FarmSahel

Stop Huger Names Madjalia Seynou as 2023 Women for Zero Hunger Program finalist

Mon, 10 Apr 2023 20:25:27 GMT

2023 Women for Zero Hunger Program Finalist!

We are thrilled to Announce that Madjalia Seynou, Founder and Executive Director of FarmSahel is a 2023 Women for Zero Hunger Program Finalist!

Each finalist presented inspiring projects tackling hunger and food insecurity across Africa. Their innovative ideas, passionate teams, and demonstrably positive community impact were truly remarkable.

Congratulations to all Winners! FarmSahel, Women Smiles Uganda and ChildVoice International who have been selected for their exceptional contributions to fighting against hunger in Africa!

These incredible women will receive crucial financial support and a transformative six-month mentorship program to further empower their work.

The grand prize winner, to be announced at the end of the year, will also have the opportunity to showcase their project at the 2024 Stop Hunger Event, unlocking additional crowdfunding potential.

WIA Philanthropy and Stop Hunger are eager to support these trailblazing leaders over the next six months.

Advanced Weather Prediction in Burkina Faso

Thu, 09 Feb 2023 15:00:00 GMT

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In late 2022 Burkina Faso was one of the western Sahel countries to receive an onslaught of heavy and unpredictable rain. From June to October of 2022, over 800 people died, and flooding destroyed millions of hectares of farmland. Human-caused climate change made the 2022 wet season 20% more severe, exacerbating the chronic food security crisis facing Burkina Faso and the Sahel. Crops in most of the Western Sahel received 40% less water than needed. As a result, in Burkina Faso, crop production dropped by 10% compared to the previous five-year average.

Food prices rose significantly due to a low harvest and a lack of imports hampered by the war in Ukraine. Experts wanted to find a link between the 2021 drought and the 2022 deadly rainfall in the Sahel. Unfortunately, it was impossible to detect trends or plan preventative measures due to a lack of weather instruments.

Now Burkina Faso is modernizing its technology to track and predict the weather as the onslaught of climate change continues. The European Union funded a pilot program called ClimSA which started in Burkina Faso and is now moving to 17 other West African countries. This program allows countries like Burkina Faso to better predict and track weather. Over 300 stations across Burkina Faso take measurements of temperature, precipitation, humidity, radiation levels, and atmospheric pressure. With this information, trained Burkinabe meteorologists can refine forecasts and monitor the impact of climate change.

Weather stations and weather prediction systems were severely lacking across the entire continent of Africa. From 1990 to 2019, Africa received only 3.5% of global funding for climate research. Now, with the ClimSA program, meteorologists are able to communicate better with the general public. In Burkina Faso, agricultural bulletins are sent to local radio stations in eight different languages with specialized weather reports. With over 900,000 daily listeners, farmers are taking advantage of the new information. They are able to know when to plant and listen to seasonal weather forecasts. The meteorologists also use the large radio audience to explain to farmers how to improve yields, manage water, and refresh degraded soil.

The information collected has shown that there has been a steady increase in temperatures in Burkina Faso over the years. Rainfall is coming late in the season and only as heavy and destructive downpours. As meteorologists were setting up the new advanced weather systems across Burkina Faso, in Egypt, a breakthrough was made at COP27. The United Nations Climate Change conference provided an agreement called "loss and damage," which plans to fund vulnerable countries hit hard by climate disasters. The governments involved in creating the agreement will establish a transitional committee to make recommendations on funding arrangements at COP28. This committee's first meeting will be in March of 2023.

For the globe to transition into a low-carbon economy, it is estimated to cost between $4 to $6 trillion a year. Activists continue to worry about the promise of change, but the lack of action as developed countries have not yet met the $100 billion per year by 2020 as promised.

The new loss and damage fund will help countries like Burkina Faso continue to mitigate climate change disasters. ClimSA is another tool that will be life-saving to farmers and rural Burkinabe people who may be in a storm's path. But, unfortunately, developed countries need to do more not only to finance but to transition into a zero-carbon economy.

https://unfccc.int/news/cop27-reaches-breakthrough-agreement-on-new-loss-and-damage-fund-for-vulnerable-countries

https://www.lemonde.fr/en/le-monde-africa/article/2022/11/09/cop27-burkina-faso-uses-improved-methods-to-predict-rainfall-and-extreme-weather-events_6003529_124.html

https://www.carbonbrief.org/west-africas-deadly-rainfall-in-2022-made-80-times-more-likely-by-climate-change/

Making an Impact Around the World

Sat, 24 Sep 2022 12:20:22 GMT

Making an Impact Around the World

Africa is a beautiful country that has seen absolute horrors entirely out of her control. Africa’s vast and diverse wilderness is breathtaking but disappearing, and her population is growing but unstable. Yet, through all the hardships faced on the continent, the everyday people of Africa have shown their resilience and ability to keep looking forward, not giving up no matter the difficulties they face. As FarmSahel continues to help the everyday rural farmers of Burkina Faso, we must remember the dedication Burkinabe people have not to allow their uncontrollable situation stop them from achieving greatness.

One recent example of greatness is the winner of the 2022 United Nations Women Police Office of the year. Chief Warrant Officer Alizéta Kabore Kinda grew up in Burkina Faso. She was always focused on protecting and promoting Women’s and Children’s rights. In Burkina Faso, she worked with the Ministry of Security as an investigator on sexual violence and exploitation. She also worked in the Democratic Republic of the Congo between 2013 and 2015, leading the UN mission on gender rights. Chief Warrant Officer Alizéta Kabore Kinda won this award because of her peacekeeping work in the neighboring country of Mali. There she worked alongside Malian Security Forces to promote and improve the rights of women and children. Before arriving in Mali, no cases of sexual violence were reported; after Chief Warrant Officer Kinda’s work, they are receiving up to three reported cases of sexual and gender-based violence a month. These cases are reported to local authorities, and victims receive adequate medical care.

Chief Warrant Officer Kinda is a shining example of the resilience and hope the Burkinabe people carry with them no matter their hardships. Facing an uphill battle, Kinda was able to educate, support, and bring her own experiences to the UN peacekeeping mission, helping countless victims for years to come.

Another native Burkinabe who grew up in the Centre-east region of Burkina Faso is Diébédo Francis Kéré. He is an internationally renowned architect and won multiple awards throughout his long career. Most recently, in 2022, he won the prestigious Pritzker Architecture Prize. The Pritzker Prize is often referred to as the architecture Nobel Prize. The prize has been awarded annually since 1979 and looks for architects whose work is extraordinary with consistent and significant contributions to the betterment of humanity. In 2022, Diébédo Francis Kéré was the first African to have ever won this award. He has imagined and created magnificent buildings that touch every corner of the world. However, it did not start like this, he began in the small village of Gando in Burkina Faso before going to Berlin for official schooling. In 2001 Kéré returned to Burkina Faso and designed the first primary school in the Gando village.

With the help of the community, creating almost every part of the school by hand, Kéré fused indigenous materials with modern engineering. Since then, his architecture has always had a design that was in harmony with the world around it.

Kéré stated that he uses local resources and participatory design methods to create contemporary architecture with an afro-futurist vision. As he grew in success and fame, Kéré never forgot about his humble beginnings and the importance of the community that helped him. He explained his desire to give to the next generation, and he feels that he must support his community. Diébédo Francis Kéré is a shining example of the resilience and determination the Burkinabe people have. Kéré grew up in Gando village and was the first child from the village to be sent to school. With the help of his friends and community Kéré has left an inspiring legacy for the next generation.

Chief Warrant Officer Alizéta Kabore Kinda and Diébédo Francis Kéré are two examples of outstanding leaders and exceptional inspirations for people around the world. They are just two of the thousands of Burkinabe people who are making a difference, big or small, for their communities.

With your support, FarmSahel will continue its efforts to create a prosperous Burkina Faso. We will continue to elevate women and children to their full potential to allow other Burkinabe people to go out and do amazing things for the community around them!

https://news.un.org/en/story/2022/08/1125642

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3KLsWAb0NpY

https://reliefweb.int/report/mali/note-correspondents-peacekeeper-burkina-faso-serving-mali-receives-2022-united-nations-woman-police-officer-award

https://www.kerearchitecture.com/

https://www.pritzkerprize.com/laureates/diebedo-francis-kere

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Di%C3%A9b%C3%A9do_Francis_K%C3%A9r%C3%A9

The Discovery of Agriculture

Fri, 26 Aug 2022 15:11:03 GMT

The Discovery of Agriculture

Evolutionary history constantly changes as scientists find new fossil records and archeologists reinterpret old evidence. Although, what has remained true is modern humans’ first continent, Africa. It is here that the entire world as we know it started. Ninety thousand years ago, the first people migrated out of Africa to explore a new world and create new cultures, languages, and technologies. One of these developments was one that completely changed the way humans lived, domestication.

As hunter-gatherers, humans migrated alongside their food. They had no permanent settlements, and everyone worked together to feed their small tribe. Eventually, agriculture started to seep into the lives of people. The exact time and way ancient humans first domesticated plants and animals is still not known. Archaeologists believed that once a tribe learned about agriculture, they switched entirely and that this way of life spread worldwide, hence the name agricultural revolution. However, recently this theory has been disproven. Some tribes in Africa kept to their hunter-gatherer lifestyle, while others took a hybrid approach. Archeological records also indicate that humans discovered agriculture around the late stone age when people carved stones into specific shapes for weapons and tools.

Another misconception many people have is that the discovery of agricultural production happened in one place. In reality, cultures worldwide discovered domestication in multiple places, but the exact process of how it came about will never be known. However, archeologists and historians have a consensus on the most likely way plant and animal domestication was discovered.

It is believed that the gatherers of the tribe started to protect certain crops, mostly cereals like sorghum and millets. People would protect the crops by weeding and resowing their seeds. Gatherers soon found that resowing healthier crops produced better crops the following year. True domestication came when a family of crops became dependent on human intervention. As the years went by, the plant would no longer be able to compete with weeds but would produce a much higher yield.

The same process took place with the domestication of wild animals. Again, the members of the tribe would protect the healthier wild animals. The animals would be herded together and brought to better grazing sites to increase their size. Larger animals produced more milk and meat, but the animals now required human assistance to survive. The agricultural revolution was long and drawn out, but its impacts changed humans’ entire understanding of the world!

People around the world and in Africa started settling. Instead of makeshift shelters, people began to use mud, thatch, and even stones to create permanent housing. With the rise of agriculture, people began to develop better tools, use them, and be able to store them. They were no longer restricted to only taking what they could carry on their backs. Even more importantly, as people began settling in fertile regions and having a reliable food source, they had more children. Once seen as a burden to carry and care for, the entire family helped raise newborn babies. They would soon be in the fields helping their family with the harvest. Families also gained access to a surplus. If families were able to produce more than they could consume, they would have food security through bad harvests or severe weather. They would also be able to trade with artisans for other goods.

Agriculture completely changed the way human beings interacted with their environment. They no longer lived in harmony with nature, migrating with the weather and animals. This surplus quickly started to create classes between rich and poor. However, this change was much more gradual than recently believed. Many early farming communities still relied heavily on hunting. Some communities simply domesticated animals, migrating to the best feeding spots every season. Archaeologists believe that most of Africa’s traditional religions gained a spiritual element during the agricultural revolution. People now had to rely on the weather and the varying climate. This brought about prayers for rain, fertility, and a good harvest.

Plant and animal domestication was a long and slow process but soon took over every corner of the world. It became embedded in ancient people’s lifestyles and religions. The agricultural revolution was a significant turning point in the history of homo sapiens. We still rely heavily on farm production, and FarmSahel is working to ensure farmers can produce crops for generations.

Shillington, Kevin. History of Africa. Fourth ed., Red Globe Press, 2019.

Burkina Faso’s Resilient Culture

Mon, 08 Aug 2022 16:50:11 GMT

On August 5th, Burkina Faso celebrated its 62nd Independence Day! Colonial rule was brutal to the African people, and it decimated cultures. Luckily, the people of Burkina Faso stood tall against French rule and are still able to practice those ancient traditions that their ancestors participated in generations ago.

It wasn’t until Thomas Sankara took power in 1983 in a bloodless coup when The Republic of Upper Volta officially became Burkina Faso. Sankara chose the name Burkina Faso from two of the country’s most common languages. As an attempt to drive away corruption and gain greater autonomy from foreign influence, the name roughly translates to ‘Land of Honest People.’ Unfortunately, the political situation of Burkina Faso has not improved with continued coups, violence, and poverty. However, the Burkinabe people have never waivered and continue practicing their traditional culture, especially in rural areas.

While French is the official language of Burkina Faso, there are over 70 languages throughout the country, 60 of which are indigenous to the region. Each of these languages has its own myths, spiritual traditions, and cultures which survived the onslaught of western colonization. Overall, the traditional beliefs of many indigenous cultures differ from western cultures. Burkina Faso’s traditional ideas focus on an inter-dependence between communities and living in harmony with nature. Traditional culture focuses on living well, not living better, which helps deter conflict between ethnic groups.

With such deep roots in traditional culture, Burkina Faso is rich in music, clothing, and rituals. Traditional music often consisted of drums, flutes, and stringed instruments. In addition, in the west of the country, an instrument called the balophon is made with dried gourds. Dancers usually accompany music in colorful costumes. Music is such an important aspect of traditional culture that Burkina Faso holds a biennial festival called the International Festival of Masks and the Arts or FESTIMA.

The International Festival of Masks and the Arts started in 1996 and occurs every other year, falling on even years. The fifteenth festival took place in early March 2020 and lasted several days. The festival is held in Burkina Faso, the most recent in Bankuy. Thousands of people come to see dancers in traditional clothes and masks perform ancient rituals from west African countries. There is usually a translator at the festival to help interpret the dance being performed. While music and dance are integral to the traditional culture of Burkina Faso, this festival focuses on the protection of Masks that are very important to the Mossi ethnic group.

The Mossi are the largest ethnic group in Burkina Faso, accounting for about 52% of the population. The ancient Mossi empire controlled a large portion of the center of Upper Volta. The Nyonyose, farmers and spiritual segments of ancient Mossi culture, used masks in rituals and religious observances. Archaeologists found that the Mossi primarily used masks at burials, especially for leading elders and chiefs. Rituals would be performed continuously after an elder had died since elders had the most respect in the Mossi hierarchical system. It is believed that Masks allowed the spirit to pass into the world of ancestors. It is believed without a proper funeral the spirit would cause trouble for their descendants. Thick, vibrant costumes accompanied masks. Masks are still sacred in many traditional parts of Burkina Faso and are seen as a link to spirits and nature.

These traditional parts of Burkina Faso are usually rural regions. They have relied on oral tradition to pass down poems, folk tales, songs, and more. It wasn’t until late into colonization that written literature came to the Burkinabe people, some of whom started to write down oral stories, mostly from the Mossi ethnic group.

While cultural tradition and language have survived colonial rule, new problems are bringing Burkina Faso’s rich culture into demise. Most notably, young people are flocking to cities to find higher-paying jobs. These cities do not follow the traditional culture and are much more westernized. Second, the noble aspects of traditional Burkina Faso culture are disappearing as life becomes more difficult for the rural population. Third, climate change, internally displaced people, and terrorism forced some groups to have forgotten about living well and in harmony with nature.

FarmSahel hopes to continue or bring back that ancient tradition of living in harmony with nature. Our programs are designed to help mitigate the effect of climate change, allow villages to better absorb the impact of migrants, and bring harmony back between the agriculturalists and their land.

https://www.aljazeera.com/gallery/2016/3/13/in-burkina-faso-festima-a-festival-of-african-masks

https://www.iexplore.com/articles/travel-guides/africa/burkina-faso/history-and-culture

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mossi_people#:~:text=The%20Mossi)%20are%20a%20Gur,or%20about%2011.1%20million%20people.

https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/the-culture-of-burkina-faso.html

https://barkafoundation.org/burkina-faso-history-culture-climate-people-more/

National Parks in Burkina Faso

Wed, 20 Jul 2022 15:02:42 GMT

National parks are a vital part of protecting and conserving the harmony of mother nature.

Around the world, National parks are protecting sea creatures, insects, and fauna alike. In Burkina Faso, five national parks preserve the beauty of West African wildlife. One of the oldest National parks in Burkina Faso is called the Mare aux Hippopotames.

Established in 1937, the Mare aux Hippopotames became the only UNESCO Biosphere reserve in the nation. Formally established in 1977 and translated to ‘Lake of Hippopotamuses,’ it was created around a freshwater lake with other pools and marshes. It spans about 19,200 ha covering the floodplain of the black volta river. While the park’s main feature is the lake it is named after, the surrounding and protected galley forests have the most beneficial impact on the larger ecosystem. Galley forests form corridors along waterways, growing trees in regions that do not typically support tree growth. In these galley forests, Elephants, antelopes, primates, and hundreds of bird species can roam free. In addition, in the freshwater lake, crocodiles and a large population of hippopotamuses bring tourists to the region. Located in the southwest of Burkina Faso, the wildlife of Mare aux Hippopotames sees only four months of rainy weather, making the protection of the freshwater lake vital to the ecosystem.

Moving east in Burkina Faso, located just north of the border of Ghana, is the second National Park of Burkina Faso, Kaborè Tambi National Park. Founded in 1976, the park follows the Nazinon river covering 155,500 ha. The large stretch of land has become a safe haven for wildlife, particularly birds, in Burkina Faso. But unfortunately, the park is not immune to poachers. In 1991, a ranger lost his life to poachers, and the park was renamed in his honor.

Poachers have been a major issue throughout Africa since the discovery of ivory. Focusing on elephants, poachers are debilitating the population. The Deux Balès National Park was once home to the largest population of elephants in Burkina Faso in 2001. In 1937, as part of French West Africa, the area was named the Deux Balès Classified Forests. Unfortunately, the name is misleading, for this area was never designated as a national park. The area of the park ranges anywhere from 61,000 ha to 81,000 ha. While it is no longer home to a large population of elephants, the park is home to various flora. Most notably aging baobab trees. Native to Africa, baobab trees are widespread and can live up to 2,000 years. While this park is a haven for vegetation, without proper management, protection, and designation as a national park, wildlife continues to be threatened.

The last set of national parks is a joint effort by multiple countries in West Africa. The first, Arli National Park, is located on the far east side of Burkina Faso, linking up with Benin’s Pendjari National Park. The Arli National Park holds a portion of the habitat home to Burkina Faso’s elephant population. The park is also home to hippopotamuses, lions, woodlands, gallery forests, and sandstone hills.

Just north of Arli is W National Park, a major national park in West Africa encompassing three countries: Burkina Faso, Niger, and Bennin. Formally established in 1954, the park follows a bend of the River Niger that outlines a ‘W’ where the park gets its name. While the area is largely uninhabited due to wetlands that create a malaria zone, archaeological discoveries have shown humans once occupied the area. W National Park is significant not only for the 800,000 ha it protects but because of the wildlife living within it. The park is known for its large animals, such as the cheetah, buffalo, and aardvark. Most notably, W National Park is home to the most extensive grouping of the endangered West African Elephants.

In 2016, the African elephant Status Report estimated that 6,850 elephants live in Burkina Faso. In 2003, the government of Burkina Faso at the time published an elephant management strategy that successfully increased the dying elephant population. Unfortunately, as the political situation degraded in Burkina Faso, so did the protection of these elephants. As a result, poaching carcasses have increased to about 50 - 86 per year.

By actively establishing, protecting, and maintaining National Parks, we can continue to hope to see an increase in Africa’s biodiversity. However, we cannot rely on National Parks alone to protect our planet. It will take a considerable effort from everyone to keep temperatures low, keep species alive, and continue the harmony of the ecosystem. Through FarmSahel’s programs and the continued efforts of smallholder farmers implementing sustainable permaculture, FarmSahel will be able to revitalize and maintain the beautiful ecosystem of Africa.

https://portals.iucn.org/library/sites/library/files/documents/SSC-OP-060_E.pdf

https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/the-four-national-parks-of-burkina-faso.html

https://discover-burkinafaso.com/national-parks/

https://www.africatouroperators.org/burkina-faso/kabore-tambi-national-park

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deux_Bal%C3%A9s_National_Park

https://en.unesco.org/biosphere/africa/mare-aux-hippopotames

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/W_National_Park

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wildlife_of_Burkina_Faso#W_of_the_Niger_National_Park

Conflict Minerals in the International Supply Chain

Wed, 06 Jul 2022 15:31:40 GMT

Commonly referred to as 3T minerals: tin, tantalum, and tungsten.

While FarmSahel focuses on improving agriculture, Africa is also a continent rich in raw minerals. Mining has been a prime export of Africa starting around 1000 BCE in Northern Central Africa, where the Early Iron Age originated on the continent. Before the scramble for Africa by European nations, explorers saw the multitude of mines for precious metals from gold to copper. Unfortunately, not every African civilization had access to the income that luxurious metals brought. Even in 2022, Africa is still a major source of minerals that spread around the globe. Unfortunately, even now, people are being exploited to extract those minerals.

Commonly referred to as 3T minerals: tin, tantalum, and tungsten. The 3T minerals are essential to creating standard technology. They are relied on by major companies such as Apple, Tesla, Intel, and Microsoft. As the technology boom flourished and a focus on better batteries and smaller components came to fruition, so did the question of ethical sourcing. In 2009, a group of organizations created the International Tin Supply Chain Initiative or the ITSCI. It aims to create a reliable and ethical supply chain for the 3T minerals. Through a system of government validation of mines, audits, and specialty tagging, companies and countries would be able to know that these minerals came from ethical mines. Most mines for the 3T minerals come from the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda. It is also from these two countries that most conflict minerals are making it to market.

A conflict mineral comes from a mine that is exploiting its workers. Usually, this means an armed militia group has taken control of the mine where they can use child labor, force nearby towns to work, and ignore any safety precautions. These mines are a vital source of income for these militia groups. With the ability to launder minerals into the overall market, violence has raged for control of the mines. Militia groups are vying for more mines to increase their income, with no accountability for smuggling minerals onto the international stage.

In 2014, the ITSCI government first recognized the contamination of conflict minerals in the international market. Then, in 2015, the Congolese NGO Max Impact also alleged that conflict minerals were making it past the ITSCI verification and into the market. Now, decades later, Global Witness has evidence that only 20% of the 83 tons of 3T minerals have come from validated mines. Most of the contamination comes from the east of the DRC near the border with Rwanda. In addition, Global Witness and other NGOs continuously find that mines are tagging much more minerals than they have produced.

Unfortunately, there does not seem to be a solution in sight. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development determined that the ITSCI verification system aligns with its due diligence despite continued evidence from NGOs and Watchdog groups. In addition, Global Witness found new evidence suggesting that ITSCI individuals frequently downplay or ignore incidents of contamination that seriously affect the supply chain. Furthermore, according to the UN, highly underpaid governmental employees often participate in smuggling. With minimal field staff and an extreme lack of oversight from the ITSCI, it is difficult to see a clear solution.

Global Witness listed a list of potential reforms that can get conflict minerals out of the international supply. Unfortunately, major companies are contempt at trusting the mechanism in place, which has proven to fail. Reforming the International Tin Supply Chain Initiative is a necessary first step to avoiding conflicts of interest. Second, Global Witness calls for validated mines to be transparent in their mineral production data.

We must rely on the action of NGOs and groups like Global Witness to continue to bring this lawlessness to light. Mining is already a life-threatening job, but we rely on the precious minerals in our everyday lives. It is not impossible to have a world where companies can trace all minerals back to an ethically sourced mine!

https://news.mongabay.com/2022/05/scheme-to-stop-conflict-minerals-fails-to-end-child-labor-in-drc-report-says/

https://www.globalwitness.org/en/campaigns/natural-resource-governance/itsci-laundromat/#key-recommendations

https://www.globalwitness.org/documents/20347/The_ITSCI_Laundromat_-_April_2022.pdf

https://www.globalwitness.org/en/campaigns/conflict-minerals/#:~:text=The%20global%20minerals%20trade%20has,supply%20chains%20and%20mitigating%20harms.

The International 4 per 1000 Initiative

Mon, 04 Jul 2022 20:50:53 GMT

While the Paris agreement may not have been the answer to the most pressing issue humanity faces, COP21 produced another lesser-known initiative.

In December 2015, the 21st Conference of Parties was held in Paris, where 196 countries signed the Paris Climate Agreement. In short, this agreement brings most nations together to develop and implement ambitious reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. However, many climate activities do not believe the agreement goes far enough. First, each country must act on its own accord and set its greenhouse gas targets. Second, the plans that were introduced in 2015 were not aggressive enough to combat the 1.5 degrees Celsius the Paris Climate Agreement is trying to avoid. Third, after almost six years of the Paris Climate Agreement, we have seen that countries are not taking the extreme measures needed to limit emissions.

While the Paris agreement may not have been the answer to the most pressing issue humanity faces, COP21 produced another lesser-known initiative. The 4 per 1000 initiative was launched by France in December 2015 aimed as a grassroots effort to show the importance agricultural soils have in reducing climate change and increasing food security. The 4 per 1000 initiative is strictly voluntary, but, unlike the Paris agreement, it targets everybody from states, companies, NGOs, and non-profit organizations to implement actions for soil carbon storage.

The 4 per 1000 initiative focuses on the benefits of soil carbon storage that turn greenhouse gas emissions from plants into nutrients for the soil. Its name comes from the target increase to significantly improve soil vitality. Scientific research shows that an annual 0.4% increase in soil carbon retention will significantly reduce carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Currently, the world’s soil stock is storing 1,500 billion tons of carbon in the form of organic matter. Soil is able to store carbon dioxide from plants that have pulled the greenhouse gas in through photosynthesis. When the plant dies, organic matter from the soil breaks down the plant, storing the CO2, and creating a more nutritious and healthier soil layer.

While 1,500 billion tons of CO2 sounds like a lot, it does not compete in scale of the 36.7 billion tons of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere from human activities in 2019. Each year, that amount increases by 4.3 billion tons. A rate that is hard to slow down and almost impossible to capture. Additionally, soil degradation is increasing while the weather turns extreme to heat waves and floods. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations estimates that 75% of soils are already degraded in varying degrees due to human activities.

In this dire situation, the 4 per 1000 initiative gives everybody the opportunity to work towards reducing climate change. 4 per 1000 focuses on increasing the ability of soil to store carbon, which will increase the soil’s health. The initiative lists ways farmers worldwide can better protect and support their soil:

• Never leave soil bare.

• Use no-tilling methods of farming.

• Grow more cover crops.

• Develop agroforestry.

• Optimize pasture management.

• Improve water and fertilizer management.

The 4 per 1000 initiative lists these as ways to start enriching and protecting our soils from further damage. Not only storing greenhouse gasses but increasing food security through healthier soil.

FarmSahel has already implemented most of these recommendations in Burkina Faso. However, we have the added task of having to restore soil vitality before protecting its nutrients. FarmSahel will continue to implement these recommendations to restore soil nutrients, and we hope with our commitment to the 4per1000 initiative, we can continue to highlight the importance of sustainable permaculture.

FarmSahel has joined this grassroots effort to show the world how vital soil health is. Nutritious soil will benefit the climate, biodiversity, farmers, and families. FarmSahel has programs in place to start bringing life back to the soils of Burkina Faso. Only through donations can we continue our effort to promote and implement sustainable permaculture.

https://4p1000.org/discover/?lang=en

https://edition.cnn.com/2015/12/12/world/global-climate-change-conference-vote/

https://regenerationinternational.org/4p1000/

https://unfccc.int/process-and-meetings/the-paris-agreement/the-paris-agreement

The Cost of War: An Uneasy Peace in Tigray

Wed, 08 Jun 2022 15:24:00 GMT

War has shown that a nation, once seen as a model in a region, can erode any sense of stability and humanity. Ethiopia was seen as the gold standard in a world mired in war. It was free from conflict for decades and saw economic growth near 9% year over year in the 21st century. Ethiopia is one of Africa's oldest nation-states, sitting on the horn of Africa overseeing the Red Sea's entrance into the Indian Ocean. While fighting may not have occurred directly in Ethiopia, tensions grew, and divisions started to run deep.

During Ethiopia's high economic growth, the Tigray People's Liberation Front, or TPLF, was in power. The ethnic minority called Tigrayans come from a mountainous region in the north of Ethiopia. During their grip on power, the TPLF ruled with an iron fist. Torture was commonplace in federal prisons, and the Prime Minister swiftly suppressed political opposition. This added to the long-standing ethnic tensions that recently came to a boiling point in the country.

Tigrayans only account for about 7% of Ethiopia's population, although they ruled the country for 27 years. Their reign came to an end when Prime Minister Zenawi died in 2012. Protests started swiftly by oppressed majority groups, and by 2018, the Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy had taken power. Once Prime Minister Abiy and his party took control, he purged corrupt politicians and signed a peace agreement with neighboring Eritrea, a longtime adversary. Others saw this as a consolidation of power by Abiy. The 'corrupt politicians’ he purged were usually opposition leaders who did not get a fair trial. Furthermore, the peace agreement signed with Eritrea ostensibly became a declaration of war against a common enemy, Tigray. Despite the opposing viewpoints, Prime Minister Abiy won the Nobel Peace Prize for his work on brokering a peace deal between the two countries in 2019.

As the new Prime Minister was arresting political opposition and putting some on trial for human rights abuses and corruption, the TPLF supporters had to retreat into the mountainous region of Tigray. Tensions were at an all-time high when Mr. Ayib called for a postponement of parliamentary elections in September 2020, citing the coronavirus pandemic. Tigray held the elections in the region anyway. In response, the government cut Tigray's budget, and the Tigray People's Liberation Front was labeled a terrorist organization by parliament in Ethiopia. Then in November 2020, TPLF forces attacked a federal military base within the Tigray region. The TPLF claimed this was a preemptive attack and that the federal troops were planning to attack within the Tigray region. Either way, it was the start of a bone chilling war.

Hours after the TPLF attacked federal forces, Ayib announced a military operation in Tigray that would be a quick and bloodless victory. Using knowledge of the terrain and guerilla warfare, TPLF forces were able to quell any underestimation the federal troops carried. Fighting went on for months, but by June 2021, federal forces surrendered. They suffered heavy casualties, many being taken prisoner, and they retreated from the Tigray region. TPLF forces continued to push the now broken federal forces back. In November 2021, Prime Minister Ayib secured military drones from Iran, the United Arab Emirates, and Turkey. These drones turned the TPLF forces on their heels. The TPLF was now suffering heavy casualties, and they lost all ground as they retreated into the mountainous stronghold of Tigray.

Through more than 16 months of brutal fighting, the innocent civilians caught in the crossfire have suffered the most. In a region on the front lines of climate change where already 20 million people are in crisis, war brought a devastating and lasting scar to the population. Prime Minister Ayib had blocked any humanitarian aid from reaching the most vulnerable populations throughout the fighting. The Guardian reports, "A vengeful cycle of atrocities and possible war crimes have inflicted on civilians from all sides of Ethiopia's civil war and has left a poisonous legacy of mistrust."

A very loose peace agreement has been reached, allowing some outside aid and investigators to enter both Ethiopia and Tigray. Ayib still has blocked road access into Tigray but is allowing planes into the region, which will help alleviate some of the suffering felt by over 9.4 million people. Children are most at risk from this blockade, unable to access essential items to sustain healthy growth.

Allowing humanitarian aid to enter the region was supposed to be a sign of good faith. Still, as investigators from the United Nations enter the region, they are worried that the scars are now too deep to heal. The UN led investigation corroborated witness testimony to numerous human rights violations, massacres, ethnic cleansing, and widespread sexual violence. Human Rights Watch also reported and accused Tigrayan forces of executing civilians in previously captured areas. Moreover, while there were previous peace agreements to allow humanitarian aid, they quickly fell apart. Most horrifyingly, on January 8th federal forces launched a drone strike on a Tigrayan camp for internally displaced peoples killing 56. This prompted humanitarian aid workers to pull out of the region as there was a significant flare-up in fighting. In December of 2021, the Washington Post reported that the UN Human Rights Council agreed to establish a team to investigate possible war crimes committed by all parties in the conflict. Still, fighting continues along the border of Ethiopia and Tigray. The United States has claimed an ethnic cleansing campaign of Tigrayan people as small-scale clashes erupt on the border with federal forces.

With wars being fought around the globe, one thing is clear, no matter the treaties, no matter the conventions, rules for war are arbitrary. Civilians have and always will feel the brunt of the conflict. The innocent mothers just trying to raise their children, the elderly seeing the prosperous city they grew up in be demolished to rubble, and children stunted in growth and haunted by memories of war. Although the current peace agreement is being followed, we can only hope a more concrete treaty can be signed to stop the fighting entirely.

Neighboring countries worry about their fate as Ethiopia was an anchor of peace in a tumultuous region. As seen in the Sahel, fighting and disruption can spread quickly. It is always important to remember the individuals affected by conflict, the people who are only trying to survive but get caught in a war they have no control over. It is these people that FarmSahel is helping. Our programs are designed to push families out of poverty so if war comes, they have the disposable income to protect themselves and their family.

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/20/world/africa/drones-ethiopia-war-turkey-emirates.html

https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2022/feb/02/tigray-neighbours-on-war-footing-as-ethiopia-peace-remains-elusive

https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/the-misery-behind-the-truce-in-ethiopias-civil-war/2022/03/25/975dfc60-ac59-11ec-8a8e-9c6e9fc7a0de_story.html

https://www.nytimes.com/article/ethiopia-tigray-conflict-explained.html#link-65fde574

https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/some-ethiopians-claim-forced-recruitment-by-tigrayan-forces-2022-05-16/

Regenerative Cultivation is Revitalizing Africa

Tue, 17 May 2022 15:14:00 GMT

As the industrial age boomed and populations increased, food supply had to meet demand. So scientists invented new chemicals for farmers worldwide who were racing to produce the highest yields regardless of climate impact. As a result, harmful chemicals that killed microbial life and contaminated water supplies were spread around the globe to industrial and small-holder farmers alike. Now that people are feeling the deadly effects of climate change, we are waking up to the idea that it is necessary to live in harmony with our surrounding ecosystem rather than exploit it.

Better known as regenerative cultivation, farmers in Africa and around the world are learning about the benefits of patiently restoring life to their soil. For decades, harmful chemicals have kept pests and diseases from crops. However, these same chemicals have eroded agricultural land to devastating levels. According to a recent study conducted by IUCN, in Africa alone, nearly half of all agricultural land has signs of severe land degradation affecting over 650 million people. The report, published and delivered at COP26, provides compelling evidence of the positive impacts of regenerative cultivation practices.

Using synthetic chemicals and mono-crop agriculture is a relatively new and industrial way of farming. It has killed pollinators, polluted water supplies, and eroded soil at a rate of 10 to 100 times faster than the soil can regenerate, leaving productive fields in ruin. In fact, many ancient cultures understood the importance of regenerative cultivation, the act of farming in harmony with nature. A quick and widespread turn towards regenerative cultivation will nurture farmland by restoring soil and promoting ecosystem health.

Regenerative cultivation does not just focus on the health of farming soil. It takes the entire ecosystem into account, from forest management to wildlife protection. Farmers throughout Africa have already started implementing regenerative cultivation practices into their communities. Ecological benefits were shown to be vast, including improvements in soil health and fertility, healthier crops, increased yields, and vast microbial communities. There was also a drastic decrease in soil erosion and a boost in climate resilience. Healthy soil can retain water for longer periods of time when climate change produces deadly droughts, and healthy soil can absorb more water when damaging floods come to a region.

While some farmers in Africa have started regenerative cultivation, it is not so easy to simply start to implement it. Small-holder farmers may only have access to the harmful chemicals that are so widespread. It may be the only way in which to secure their crops and feed their family. Luckily, the IUCN report finally gives quantitative evidence of the benefits of regenerative cultivation.

The report showed that farmers can see an increase in crop yields ranging from 13% to 40% by 2040 if regenerative cultivation practices are implemented. It stated that 5 million more jobs will be added to the African economy by 2040 in farming, processing, and other related sectors. Farming in harmony with nature will benefit both industrial and small-holder farmers by securing the supply chain and strengthening livelihoods. Focusing on small-holder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa, the report explains that income for farmers can increase to 150 USD a year. By 2040, regenerative cultivation across Africa will bring a 30% reduction in soil erosion, up to 60% increase in water infiltration rates, a 24% increase in nitrogen content, and a 20% increase in deep carbon content within the soil.

Farmers will be able to increase their soil nutrients through crop management such as crop rotation, cover cropping, and crop diversification. Also, soil management, including reducing tillage, soil cover, and methods that build organic soil carbon, will boost soil longevity. Regenerative cultivation also focuses on the wider ecosystem at large. Agroforestry is a vital aspect of revitalizing the ecosystem. Planting, growing, and protecting forests is essential to bring diversification back to the ecosystem. It will not only help regenerate soil nutrients, but it will also fight against climate change, act as a carbon sink, and protect the arid lands of Africa from further erosion.

Regenerative cultivation is a slow process that will significantly benefit generations to come. While the benefits of this practice are clear, it is not so simple for many small-holder farmers who are barely getting by to switch. Climate change and harmful fertilizers have continued to degrade the already arid soil that small-holder farmers are stuck with. FarmSahel has created a new project that focuses on bringing regenerative cultivation practices to small-holder farmers in Africa. We rely on individual contributions from people to implement these life-saving practices. FarmSahel hopes to train farmers on organic composting, tree planting and forest management, crop rotation, and soil conservation. These aspects will give small-holder farmers the knowledge and resources they need to grow Africa into the vibrant and prosperous continent it deserves to be seen as.

, https://www.iucn.org/news/nature-based-solutions/202110/regenerative-agriculture-works-new-research-and-african-businesses-show-how

, https://www.nrdc.org/stories/regenerative-agriculture-101

, https://www.iucn.org/sites/dev/files/regnererative_agriculture_in_africa_report_2021.pdf

Training on Solid and Liquid organic compost

Mon, 25 Apr 2022 15:00:00 GMT

Through our new program of Food Growth through Regenerative Cultivation, FarmSahel embarked on a four-day training initiative. FarmSahel focused on educating farmers on creating, using, and storing solid and liquid compost. Compost is necessary in the Sahel because the soil that rural African farmers depend on is deprived of nutrients and organic matter. When trying to plant in this soil, yields are oftentimes insufficient, with a high potential for plant disease. In an attempt to replenish nutrients, farmers would apply harsh fertilizers and pesticides. While this worked at first, over time, it quickly became unsustainable. Additionally, pesticides are expensive and contribute to soil deprivation. FarmSahel learned of the harsh side effects of fertilizer and devised a way to educate farmers on the importance of compost.

Farmers can easily make compost from organic materials such as manure, food waste, or grass clippings. Instead of a fertilizer spray that rain can easily wash away, compost is a type of soil that farmers would continuously add to the farm. Compost starts the cycle of soil enrichment by adding nutrients and microorganisms to the land. It is long-lasting, sustainable, and beneficial to the ecosystem.

Any farmer can make compost, solid or liquid. Aerobic composting is the most commonly made and used compost. It is a type of solid compost that uses layers of organic material, moisture, and time to break down into a heavily rich soil additive. These layers include dried organic material such as dried leaves, nutrient-filled material like manure or food waste, and a cover such as grass clippings. Over time, these layers start to decompose. Then, with occasional turning and adding some water, farmers can start to have quality compost within a few months.

FarmSahel set out to the commune of Bindè in the villages of Dapelogo and Simbri. Its mission was simple; to restore land degraded by the abusive use of chemical fertilizers and synthetic pesticides. In this training, farmers learned how to produce, use, and conserve solid and liquid compost. FarmSahel’s main objectives for the training session was to reduce the use of chemical fertilizers, improve agricultural yields, instill a lifestyle change, and improve the living condition of women.

Managing compost is a tedious task requiring continuous attention to ensure the components break down into healthy microorganisms. It is a substantial change in the lives of these farmers, but the benefits of compost are undeniable. While FarmSahel prepared for about 60 women to attend the training session, we were overjoyed with 83 participants! Local authorities and community leaders were present as well, deepening the connection between FarmSahel and the region. With such a positive attendance, FarmSahel completed the objectives of reducing the use of chemical fertilizers, improving agricultural yields, instilling a change of behavior, and improving the living conditions of women.

Our training on compost and other sustainable and healthy farming techniques will continue with support from donations! With each donation, small or large, we can expand our training programs, provide women with better tools, and create an overall increase in quality of life for the rural women farmers of Burkina Faso.

Donate today to support our work.

, https://unclejimswormfarm.com/different-kinds-composting/

, https://justhopeinternational.org/farmers-west-africa-compost/

FarmSahel’s Expanded Vision

Fri, 22 Apr 2022 20:15:00 GMT

Through continuous work with community leaders, FarmSahel saw the genuine problems facing farmers in the Sahel and Africa. With this information, FarSahel has reimagined its mission statement. FarmSahel's expanded overall objective is to unlock the potential of Sahel communities to achieve economic freedom through sustainable permaculture. FarmSahel will continue to be a non-profit organization dedicated to the vision of a prosperous Africa.

FarmSahel will focus less on the generation of income and more on regenerative agriculture. We determined that an healthy farm will, in turn, bring about more income and prosperity to the region. FarmSahel is dedicated to enriching the ecosystem, focusing on land management. Permaculture will be a significant contributor to our ability to improve farmers' quality of life. Adopting land management ecosystems that are naturally occurring will provide a flourishing farm. It will enrich the farming soil and bring an ecosystem back to life that has been scorched by increasing climate change and large amounts of displaced people.

We will create a sustainable community through permaculture, beginning with communities in the Sahel. First, FarmSahel will increase access to education for rural Sahel communities to transform non-renewable agriculture into regenerative permaculture systems. These systems will bring higher growth yields and social equality. Our expanded mission statement has three programs with goals that will help foster a prosperous Africa.

First, FarmSahel will restore the local environment. FarmSahel will do this mainly through planting trees and establishing a permanent forest ecosystem. Since much of west Africa is on the front lines of climate change, growing forests can help mitigate climate pressures that many are already feeling. FarmSahel will plant and mature trees that farmers will responsibly manage to ensure it brings the ecological diversification so desperately needed in the Sahel. To date, we have planted 100 trees but FarmSahel is less concerned about the number of trees planted and more focused on the number of trees grown. It will be one step on our course to establish climate resilience through land conservation.

The next program goal is to increase community social equality and reduce poverty. Our program will educate farmers on regenerative cultivation and supply them with organic seeds and natural fertilizers. FarmSahel has an innovative approach to providing women farmers with training on regenerative cultivation and access to organic seeds. It is called the FarmWallet, which is a layaway savings system. Farmers will be able to use their mobile phones to save money for seeds and natural fertilizers. Donations FarmSahel collects for FarmWallet are used to subsidize the seeds and fertilizers to farmers, providing these materials below market value. Another aspect of this program is the education and organization of cooperatives. FarmSahel will educate women farmers on cooperative management and organize them into cooperatives. These cooperatives will allow communities to foster shared economic growth, negotiate better prices for their crops, and secure bank loans for their agribusiness.

The last program FarmSahel is launching is community development through renewable resources. Our goal is to improve community livelihoods and care for our Earth. We are focusing on building education centers powered solely by renewable energy. Furthermore, FarmSahel will take this renewable energy into the field using natural compost, conserving water and soil to ensure farming can continue for years. The last focus of this program is developing irrigated farming plots to allow farmers to grow crops during the dry season.

In short, FarmSahel continues to focus on empowering women farmers. However, we are now determined to expand our education into sustainable practices, protecting the ecosystem, and mitigating climate pressures. These new programs will greatly benefit the most vulnerable people in west Africa. With your help, you can be on the ground floor of these initiatives and truly see the impact a small donation can have. To learn more and to donate, visit farmsahel.org!

Here are ways you can support our work:

1- Donate to plant trees ($2 = 1 tree)

2- Donate to fund FarmWallet

3- Donate so we can determine where it is most needed

Burkina Faso’s Economic Outlook

Tue, 12 Apr 2022 17:00:00 GMT

Burkina Faso is the 144th poorest country in the world. Burkina Faso's economic indicators have seen promising growth in the last few years, but the covid 19 pandemic has put a significant brake on any progress. After the recent military coup, there is a cloud of uncertainty around Burkina Faso. An important economic indicator is GDP, or gross domestic product, which measures a country's final output of goods and services. GDP allows economists to understand the size of an economy and how well that economy is performing. GDP in Burkina Faso amounts to $17.3 billion, which is on the higher end compared to neighboring countries such as Guinea and Benin, whose GDP is about $15.6 billion. In 2019, Burkina Faso's real GDP increased by 5.7%, a promising level of growth. Unfortunately, Burkina Faso's economy has started to contract between extremists in the north, wreaking havoc and covid-19 disrupting trade, transportation, and tourism.

In 2020 real GDP grew by only 1.9%, an unsustainable number. Inflation increased dramatically from -3.2% in 2019 to 3.2% in 2020, primarily due to rising food prices and rental and energy costs. The fiscal deficit widened as well to 5.7% in 2020 because of extra costs for covid-19 and the never-ending security crisis. Further, oil imports declined dramatically while gold exports increased, making Burkina Faso's account deficit just 0.1% in 2020. Supply disruptions led to an energy shortage since Burkina Faso imports most of its oil.

Burkina Faso relies on Niger and Cote d'Ivoire for the majority of its refined petroleum imports. In 2020, refined petroleum continued to be Burkina Faso's main import accounting for 11.6% of its total imports costing $444 million. For imports, Burkina Faso relies most heavily on China. Burkina Faso spent $441 million in 2020 on broadcasting equipment, non-fillet frozen fish, and delivery trucks from China. As a result, Burkina Faso has to rely heavily on other countries for most of its products.

To balance the extensive number of imports to the country, Burkina Faso relies on two main sectors to generate revenue; gold and raw cotton. Gold accounted for 88.2% of total exports in 2020, bringing in $7.19 billion. The second biggest export is raw cotton accounting for 3.12% of total exports amounting to $254 million in 2020. Switzerland bought 89.6% of Burkina Faso's total exported gold in 2020, while India and Uganda bought 8.4% and 1.8%, respectively. Singapore and Switzerland were Burkina Faso's main buyers of raw cotton, each accounting for about 29% of total exports. Burkina Faso's reliance on two main sectors makes the economy volatile and reliant on market prices. In addition, Burkina Faso's dependence on other countries and an undiversified economy make it difficult for the country to pay off its debts.

Between current economic, health, and security issues, public debt totaled about 50% of GDP in 2020, about $8.65 billion. External debt or money owed to foreign lenders increased to 25% of GDP in 2020. Finally, most of Burkina Faso's debt is in floating currencies, meaning it follows the volatility of exchange rates. With this amount of debt, Burkina Faso is left with very little available for necessary security spending.

In 2020, Burkina Faso spent 2.7% of GDP on military funding, which is expected to increase as the new military junta government focuses on quelling the terrorists in the north. However, as oil prices worldwide continue to increase, Burkina Faso won't have much available spending left.

While spending may be tight, most economic outlooks seem positive for Burkina Faso. As most countries decide to live with the pandemic, Burkina Faso is expected to get back to, or close to its expected growth rate. The most critical area to focus on in Burkina Faso is the security crisis. Once quelled, economic diversification and attracting foreign direct investment will help bring Burkina Faso some monetary relief.

Until then, millions of Burkinabe people are suffering in their villages. Scared, displaced, hungry, and thirsty, the government is already stretched thin to do much for these innocent families. FarmSahel continues to promote Burkina Faso's growth and push for gender equality. With a simple monthly donation, you will support a family in desperate need and provide life's bare necessities.

, https://oec.world/en/profile/country/bfa?tradeScaleSelectorLatestTrends=tradeScale1

, https://www.worldbank.org/en/country/burkinafaso/overview#1

, https://www.afdb.org/en/countries/west-africa/burkina-faso/burkina-faso-economic-outlook

, https://www.worlddata.info/country-comparison.php?country1=BFA&country2=MLI

, https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/MS.MIL.XPND.GD.ZS?end=2020&locations=BF&start=1960&view=chart

, https://international.groupecreditagricole.com/en/international-support/burkina-faso/economic-overview ?

Coup’s Effect on Foreign Aid

Wed, 23 Mar 2022 14:00:00 GMT

Nearly three months have passed since a military coup overthrew Burkina Faso’s government on January 22nd. It was the third country in the region within 18 months to experience a military coup, allowing the international community to be prepared to take action. The first international community to act was ECOWAS or the Economic Community of West African States. ECOWAS consists of 15 member states, although the community has previously suspended Mali and Guinea for their military coups. The community thus suspended Burkina Faso’s membership and stated that the coup was a setback for democracy in the region. It called for the previous Prime Minister Kabore and others detained during the coup to be released. However, Aljazeera’s Africa correspondent states that a suspension from ECOWAS will have little effect.

During an emergency meeting in February conducted by the remaining members of ECOWAS, they discussed the possibility of sanctioning Burkina Faso. During the other military coups in the area, ECOWAS took an unpredicted step and brought sanctions against Mali and Guinea. However, the community decided against such sanctions for the time being. Instead, ECOWAS laid out demands for the interim government with the threat of sanctions looming. ECOWAS wants the junta government to develop a timetable for the country to return to a democracy. They also called on the deposed prime minister Kabore to be released, or vowed sanctions would follow.

While these are just threats from ECOWAS, a more devastating aftereffect from the coup is foreign nations halting aid to the 144th poorest country in the world. In 2021 alone, Burkina Faso received about 349.8 million USD in foreign aid. Of this amount, the top three contributing countries were the United States contributing 37.3%, the European Commission contributing 13.6%, and Germany contributing 11.1%. Available open source databases showed the majority of this aid, 101.1 million USD, went to ‘unspecified sectors.’ Another 79.9 million USD went to food security, with the remaining aid dispersed amongst various humanitarian sectors.

Humanitarian Sectors rely on this aid, especially with Covid-19 and devastating Malaria in the region. However, some significant countries that send aid are trying to block it, like the United States. In the United States, there is a law in place that explicitly prohibits foreign aid from going to a country where the head of government was deposed by a military coup or in a coup where the military had a decisive role. The only exception is if the aid is explicitly going to promote democracy. Reuters reported that the state department is restricting 158.9 million USD of aid to Burkina Faso with this law. However, the news agency reported that Congress was looking to overlook the law and still send aid notably to provide lifesaving assistance in the health sector.

While the State Department has temporarily blocked the aid, it is still up to Congress whether they will send it or not. Washington still has not formally declared that the new military junta government took power through a coup d’état. Further, the United States foreign assistance agency, called the Millennium Challenge Corporation, has halted $450 million worth of aid, typically funded throughout five years, according to Reuters.

While aid is still blocked and ECOWAS is deciding on sanctions, the new government has been inaugurated. On March 3rd, the interim president Paul-Henri Damiba was officially inaugurated into office. Burkina Faso’s new military junta government is made up of 25 ministers, including the previous Minister of Defense. On March 3rd, a transition charter was signed by the new president and his 25 ministers. It stated that the transitional government would be in place for 36 months. Furthermore, it outlined that no one serving in the current transitional government could run for any election in the first election cycle. Lastly, the charter explicitly stated the military junta’s mission, “to fight against terrorism, restore the integrity of the national territory.”

With the new government disrupting agencies across the country, non-governmental organizations are more important than ever. With aid being halted, FarmSahel is still thinking of the everyday rural women farmers struggling to put food on the table. With the uncertainty of the government and the encroachment of terrorists, nerves are high. However, with your help, our team on the ground can continue to provide the food security every human deserves!

Our recurring donors are making a continuous impact and we are truly grateful for the ongoing support. If you are not yet a recurring donor, we warmly invite you to consider setting up a recurring donation.

Please also share this with your contacts and invite them to consider supporting our work.

If you have any questions, please feel free to email us at info@farmsahel.org.

, https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/1/28/ecowas-suspends-burkina-faso-after-coup

, https://www.dw.com/en/burkina-faso-coup-west-african-bloc-hold-off-on-new-sanctions/a-60654646

, https://fts.unocha.org/countries/36/summary/2021

, https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/exclusive-us-halts-aid-burkina-faso-after-finding-military-coup-occurred-2022-02-18/

, https://www.france24.com/en/africa/20220306-burkina-faso-s-interim-president-approves-new-government-after-january-coup

, https://www.france24.com/en/africa/20220301-burkina-faso-junta-chief-approves-three-year-transition-before-elections

New Tools to Fight Malaria

Mon, 21 Mar 2022 13:05:00 GMT

Every year 290 million people are infected with malaria, and over 400,000 die. This parasite can be excruciating and often elusive. Symptoms include high fever and shaking chills. Malaria, scientifically known as one of the six parasites in the Plasmodium species, is first caused through contact with red blood cells. A human can contract the pathogen from an infected blood transfusion, a mother to an unborn child, sharing needles, or most commonly, through infected mosquitoes.

Mosquito bites make up the majority of infected cases. A mosquito gets infected by biting an already infected human. Once a human contracts the parasite, it flows to the liver and lays dormant. Depending on the parasite strain, malaria can stay dormant in a human for up to a year. Once the parasite matures, it leaves the liver and infects red blood cells. When malaria attacks red blood cells, it often leads to anemia, especially in children, which is a condition in which your body cannot supply its tissue with enough oxygen.

Through this debilitating off-shoot of malaria, children under five and pregnant women are some of the most vulnerable in the population. In Burkina Faso, exposure to malaria infection while pregnant is 30%, and maternal anemia was over 40% in 2018. Burkina Faso is among the top 10 countries with the highest number of Malaria cases and deaths. It is estimated that 50% of children under five have had moderate to severe anemia. In total, there were 7.9 million cases and 27,800 deaths in Burkina Faso alone. It accounts for 3% of all cases and 4% of all deaths globally. Malaria infection peaks during the rainy season, usually from June to October. 43% of all doctor consultations and 22% of deaths are because of rampant malaria in Burkina Faso.

The government has a structure set in place for this widespread and deadly parasite. The system starts at the central level, which is responsible for developing strategies, mobilizing resources, monitoring implementation, and evaluating project performance. The next level includes 13 health regions and eight regional hospitals. Lastly, there are 70 health districts with a district hospital, medical centers, and primary health facilities at the face-to-face level. In addition, there currently is a pre-referral pilot program started by the NMCP for children under five in the north and Sahel regions of Burkina Faso. This program will test potential cases and preemptively send affected children to hospitals for treatment.

In Burkina Faso, aspects of healthcare are free, including malaria preventatives like an insecticide-treated bed net. Healthcare covers around 15% of Burkina Faso's total annual budget. However, the fight against malaria is expensive and just getting more complicated. Many of the usual treatments used to fight or prevent malaria are no longer effective against strains that have grown resistant. The only vaccine available for malaria, Mosquirix, is only 30% effective and requires four doses. Short of the WHO recommendation of a 70% efficacy rate.

Luckily with the breakthrough of mRNA technology, companies are quickly trying to find vaccines for other diseases like malaria. While vaccine production and science facilities are slow to be built in Africa, early tests show that an mRNA vaccine for malaria is on the horizon. BioNTech and Pfizer are working on a vaccine and will run trials at the end of 2022. Oxford University is already expanding its phase one trials.

In April 2021, 450 children in Burkina Faso completed a malaria vaccine trial. It proved to be 77% effective. So, Oxford will widen its next trial into four African countries, inoculating 4,800 kids between the ages of five months and three years old.

While there is good news on the horizon, Burkinabe people need assistance now as the rainy season comes into view. Once infected, bills for treatment and hospital visits can be astronomical. That is why FarmSahel needs to continue its work to economically empower women farmers. Families do not have enough money to eat, let alone incur the costs of a debilitating parasite. While the vaccine looks promising, and there is cause for hope, this is not the end of malaria. FarmSahel will continue to support rural women farmers, who can lose their entire harvest if affected by this parasite. Now is the time to support FarmSahel's efforts to economically empower women farmers, so malaria is seen less as a death sentence. Let families get the treatment they need and give parents some sense of security.

Please also share this with your contacts and invite them to consider supporting our work.

If you have any questions, please feel free to email us at info@farmsahel.org.

https://impactmalaria.org/where-we-work/burkina-faso

https://www.severemalaria.org/countries/burkina-faso

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/malaria/symptoms-causes/syc-20351184

https://www.who.int/news/item/19-10-2021-scientists-share-data-from-first-who-recommended-malaria-vaccine

https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/potential-new-malaria-vaccine-shows-promise-burkina-faso-trial-2021-04-23/

https://www.biopharma-reporter.com/Article/2021/07/27/BioNTech-to-develop-mRNA-malaria-vaccine-unveils-ambitions-for-Africa-vaccine-supply#:~:text=BioNTech%20aims%20to%20develop%20the,a%20wide%20range%20of%20diseases.

Covid-19 and Burkina Faso: An Update

Tue, 22 Feb 2022 19:17:00 GMT

Just over two years and Covid-19 has touched every aspect of human life. Since December 2019, hospitals worldwide surged to 420 million total cases and watched 5.86 million succumb to the virus. Worldwide the Covid-19 pandemic has brought along economic hardship, frustration, and a backslide in social progress showing that Covid-19 does not just leave bodies in its devastating wake. As the Omicron variant spreads like wildfire throughout the world, countries are taking new measures to fight the virus. Luckily, this new variant is not as severe, leaving deaths low but cases soaring.

Omicron was first detected in South Africa but was by then all over the world. In Burkina Faso, when Omicron swept through the country days before a military coup, the government did not change much of its Covid-19 protocol. It still required masks to be worn in all public spaces. Then, on January 24th, as the new military junta government took power, they temporarily closed land and air borders. This was more of a measure of security than a Covid-19 restriction. Since then, land and air borders have reopened to a limited capacity. Land borders are open only for humanitarian purposes with necessary food and equipment.

Air Borders also have strict rules, although people are able to fly into and out of the country. According to Bloomberg News, in order to fly into the country, travelers need to present a negative PCR test 5 days prior to arriving. If you do not have the PCR test, your documents will be confiscated, and you will be required to take a PCR test. To receive these tests, it costs 25,000 FCFA, which is about 43 USD. If the test comes back positive, the traveler must quarantine at their own expense at a government allotted hotel. Lastly, when flying into the country, passengers six and older must pay a 90,000 FCFA fee to the health authorities no matter your documentation. Even fully vaccinated travelers must show a negative test.

Burkina Faso’s vaccine effort has fallen short of what health experts claim it needs to be. The touted threshold for a safe community is 70% of people vaccinated. Burkina Faso averaged 8,076 doses a day last week. At this rate, it will take 504 days to give at least one dose to only 10% of the population. According to Reuters, 1.25 million doses have been administered already, about 3.1% of the population. Burkina Faso is expected to receive 26.2 million vaccine doses by the middle of 2022. However, with many rich nations hoarding supply, manufacturing problems, and a lack of structure at Covax, it does not seem likely that Burkina Faso will see the full amount. At the moment, Burkina Faso only has 4.9 million doses for a population of 20.9 million.

This is not nearly enough vaccines to keep the population safe and may allow new variants to grow. However, the Burkinabé people have many other harms to worry about. The new military junta government is focused on the security situation rather than curbing Covid-19. In comparative terms, Burkina Faso has one of the lowest infection and death rates among African countries. In total, Burkina Faso has had 20,729 cases with 375 reported deaths. However, according to the CDC, Burkina Faso is still at a level 4 advisory, the highest level a country can receive, and travel is not advised. In this ranking system, there are only six countries in the level 1 ranking, and the United States is not ranked.

The responsibility of wealthy nations such as the United States, Europe, and China is to ensure there is a global effort to curb Covid-19. As Omicron finishes its sweeping infections, Covax is falling short of shrinking the gap of vaccine inequality. Instead, we see an unjust vaccination gap between the poorer and rich countries. Moreover, the effects of Covid-19 on poorer countries affect the population more harshly. Not just through deaths but through economic fallout as well.

The United Nations has reported that poverty rose by 3% because of Covid-19 in West Africa alone. More than 25 million people are struggling to meet basic food needs. The ECOWAS Commissioner stated that the pandemic had annihilated any gains made in the fight against food insecurity and malnutrition. Covid-19 mitigation measures have had the most impact on small traders’ income-generating activities. People have been forced to sell their assets and livelihoods in order to eat. The most affected countries are those surrounded by conflict, like Burkina Faso.

Through direct support to those most affected by Covid-19, we can continue the fight against food insecurity. FarmSahel is continuing its efforts to support small-holder farmers to increase their yields. Our small team allows us to implement efficient actions for small-holder women farmers. The dry season is slowly coming to an end, and now is the best time to support FarmSahel’s efforts in stopping this sweeping food insecurity that will only become more destructive in the weeks and months to come. Our recurring donors are making a continuous impact and we are truly grateful for the ongoing support. If you are not yet a recurring donor, we warmly invite you to consider setting up a , recurring donation . $24 a month goes a long way.

Please also share this with your contacts and invite them to consider supporting our work.

If you have any questions, please feel free to email us at info@farmsahel.org.

, https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/noticescovid19

, https://bf.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/covid-19-information/

, https://travelbans.org/africa/burkina-faso/

, https://data.covid19taskforce.com/data/countries/Burkina%20Faso

, https://graphics.reuters.com/world-coronavirus-tracker-and-maps/countries-and-territories/burkina-faso/

, https://news.un.org/en/story/2022/01/1110192

, https://covid19.trackvaccines.org/country/burkina-faso/

The threat of invasive pests to small-holder farmers in Burkina Faso

Tue, 15 Feb 2022 15:30:00 GMT

The Burkinabe people have been wrestling daily with enemies' destroying their livelihood from every direction. As an agricultural country; small, elusive, and invasive pests can destroy an entire field of crops. While small-holder farmers have to worry about the changing climate and their safety, a tiny one-inch caterpillar has the capacity to have the most devastating effect. Pests can easily hide and quickly destroy the most important and most grown crops in Burkina Faso.

One important crop that is engrained into the culture of Burkina Faso is the Cowpea. Known as a cash crop, its’ versatility is unmatched. When FarmSahel donated one ton of this crop to small-holder farmers last year, an article was published explaining the importance of the Cowpea. The Cowpea is part of the bean family which has a plethora of destructive insects. However, it is the legume pod borer that has the most devastating effect on Cowpeas. This tiny caterpillar is responsible for up to 80% of Cowpea destruction. The Caterpillar has a whitish green color with black spots and a dark-brown head. Young caterpillars mostly eat the leaves and foliage of Cowpea plants. As they grow, they can bore into the pods and eat developing seeds. Once mature, the larva drops to the soil and pupates into a moth. Researchers have tried to create a Cowpea variety that is resistant to the legume pod borer. Some have been successful, but the variety is very hard to come by. Planting Cowpeas earlier in the season or obtaining a variety that matures quickly is one way to avoid this pest.

More research is going into versatile crops in West Africa. Cassava is another major crop that is grown in Burkina Faso. Much like the Cowpea, the Cassava has a wide range of uses. It is the most common root crop among small-holder farmers. It has a high caloric content and can be served in many dishes such as boiled roots or Cassava juice. It can also be processed into flour, tapioca, or acheke. While this crop may seem essential,there are still pests ready to destroy entire fields of it. The Bemisia tabaci, known as the whitefly, is the main invasive insect for the Cassava plant. This insect feeds directly from the plant's sap. Flying from one plant to another, the whitefly is often a carrier of plant diseases. Whiteflies can be devastating and contribute to an annual loss of $2 billion in Africa.

A major pest that is not only contributing to a complete loss in Africa but is spreading around the world is the fall-armyworm. This pest not only attacks but devastates the staple food crop, Maize. The fall-armyworm started in the Americas and spread up to Canada. In 2016, it was found in South Africa and quickly spread throughout the country. Now it has been seen in the Middle East and Asia. This little caterpillar has a caramel brown head with black stripes running down its back and a light fuzz covering its body. They can reproduce at a rate of 1000 eggs in their 10-day lifetime. They also stay together in swarms overtaking any plot they may come across prompting headlines of an impending food crisis for the world. This is a new armyworm variant to come to Africa so there has not been enough research done on how to best eradicate the fall-armyworm. Luckily, there is one way to help prevent attacks from pests for small-holder farmers!

Pesticide is the best answer for many small-holder Burkina Faso farmers dealing with an infestation. FarmSahel has already donated 428 pesticide sprayers full of organic pesticides. As more research is done on the fall-armyworm specific pesticide will be made in order to fight this disastrous species. Until then, small-holder farmers deal with infestations throughout the growing season, pests account for a 49% loss in agricultural production across Africa. Donating directly to FarmSahel will allow us to put sprayers and organic pesticides directly into the hands of the people who need them the most. Women have to rely on crops for the betterment of their children and family. As climate change worsens and as more species emerge, this reliability diminishes. Pesticides are too expensive for small-holder farmers to afford. Farmers need to be able to rely on a sufficient supply of organic pesticides to implement on their farms correctly. FarmSahel is committed to continuing to work with farmers to ensure they have what they need to increase yields and protect their family’s livelihoods. It is through donations that we are able to give organic pesticides and training to the people who need it the most.

https://oec.world/en/profile/bilateral-product/maize-except-seed-corn/reporter/bfa

https://www.theguardian.com/global-development-professionals-network/2017/may/16/armyworms-the-hungry-caterpillar-threatening-a-global-food-crisis

http://b4fa.org/bioscience-in-brief/crop-improvement-case-studies/cowpea/

https://www.plantwise.org/KnowledgeBank/pmdg/20177800201

https://knoema.com/atlas/Burkina-Faso/topics/Agriculture/Crops-Production-Quantity-tonnes/Maize-production#:~:text=In%202020%2C%20maize%20production%20for,average%20annual%20rate%20of%2011.69%25.&text=Zea%20mays%20Corn%2C%20Indian%20corn,with%20a%20high%20germ%20content.

https://www.bayer.com/en/news-stories/fall-armyworm-combatting-another-invasive-pest-amidst-the-pandemic

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5448348/

Burkina Faso in the Dry Season

Fri, 04 Feb 2022 03:49:00 GMT

Burkina Faso is a land-locked country that has a majority tropical climate except for the northernmost region which has a desert-like climate of hot and dry days. Burkina Faso is divided into the northern desert and the tropical wet south. It experiences two major seasons each year. There is the wet season which is variable depending on where you are in the country and a dry season. On average, the country can see between 600 mm to 900 mm of rain each season.

However, for people in the northernmost part, called the Sahelian Zone, the rainy season can last as little as 60 days. During that time, they try to rely on livestock for their livelihood. Here temperatures are often higher, and rain is minimal. The center of the country, called the North-Sudanian zone, has an average rainfall with temperatures staying in their average range. Since 1975 there has been an increase of about 0.6 degrees Celsius reported by USAID in 2012. In the South-Sudanian zone, the southernmost point of Burkina Faso, rain can be excessive causing flooding and damaging crops. Rainy seasons can last as long as 160 days in this region.

The rainy season tends to be easier on the population because they are able to grow crops. It is the ever-increasing dry season that has tortured the population of Burkina Faso and many communities in West Africa. In recent years, scientists have noted the elongation of the dry season and the variability of weather. It was easy to predict that at night it would be cool, and the day temperatures would rise. Now in the morning, it can be as low as 48 degrees Fahrenheit and by late afternoon into the night, temperatures could reach up to 85 degrees Fahrenheit.

The dry season brings a large increase in the price of food and, depending on the severity and longevity of the dry season, can bring famine to the population. Another major crisis that comes with the dry season is the Harmattan winds. These winds blow from the Sahara Desert through West Africa to the Gulf of Guinea. Throughout the dry season, there is often a haze in the air, becoming so thick at times it can block out the sun like a heavy fog. The Harmattan trade winds pick up small particles that lower visibility and can cause damage to airways, eyes, skin of people, and the sudden wind change can bring about a sudden change in temperature. These dust particles are small and can penetrate the respiratory tract causing lasting damage. The dry season is a menacing time as Covid-19 and the dust particles of the Harmattan winds attack the same parts of the human body.

The trade winds can produce violent and damaging dust storms throughout Burkina Faso with relative unpredictability. There has been a lot of data collected on the Harmattan winds from many regional and international scientists. There was no major predictability and warning system set up until 2018. The World Meteorological Organization urged climate services in developing countries to not only collect data but to be a reliable news source for the general public. In 2018, a Warning Advisory system for sand and dust storms was implemented.

The system was launched in 13 administrative regions of Burkina Faso. Using simple color-coded maps, it indicated the dust concentration of a certain area over the next 48 hours. For example, as of January 16th, the next few days will see a very high concentration of dust in the northernmost region in Burkina Faso. The North-Sudanian region will have a high concentration and the South-Sudanian region will have normal dust concentration as predicted by the maps.

While the sun stays low in the sky from November to March, the dry season and the wet season are becoming increasingly extreme, elongated, and unpredictable. The dry season often lasts longer, especially in the Sahelian Zone, making food security an extremely worrying issue. The ever-resilient people of Burkina Faso struggle through each season's extreme unpredictable weather that often destroys their ability to generate income. As the people of Burkina Faso are just ending the coldest months of the dry season, they still have to endure the Harmattan winds that won't let up, the cooler temperatures, and the lack of rain making farming almost impossible.

https://www.climatelinks.org/sites/default/files/asset/document/20170807_USAID%20ATLAS_FFP_BurkinaFaso.pdf https://www.nber.org/system/files/working_papers/w25937/w25937.pdf https://sds-was.aemet.es/forecast-products/dust-forecasts https://sds-was.aemet.es/forecast-products/dust-forecasts/probability-maps-optical-depth https://sds-was.aemet.es/news/warning-advisory-sistem-for-sand-and-dust-storm-in-burkina-faso https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/africa/bf-climate.htm

FarmSahel - A Year in Review

Thu, 06 Jan 2022 15:54:00 GMT

As the year comes to a close, FarmSahel is continuing to provide support for the rural women farmers of Burkina Faso.

2021 has been a record year for FarmSahel! In our GlobalGiving campaign, we have raised over $8,000. In July 2021 we were able to spend $10,000 for organic Cowpea seeds and 438 bottles of pesticide sprayers full of organic pesticides. These resources were handed directly to 438 women farmers of Burkina Faso in the municipality of Bindè.

In August of 2021, FarmSahel held a training session in the middle of the planting season for the women who received the pesticide sprayers. Our goal was to equip women with the ability to practice good farming techniques and increase their productivity. The crops picked at the end of the growing season were bought by the local government for the supply of school lunches which allowed many of these women to obtain enough income to support their families.

This August we also launched our first annual reforestation campaign. The fight against climate change is still burdened on those who are least equipped to fight it. However, with the help of FarmSahel, the farmers of Burkina Faso came to the call. Our Green Wall initiative will help pull carbon out of the atmosphere as the trees store it in their trunk, bark, and roots. Trees also help the weather cycle that has been increasingly hazardous across Burkina Faso. Trees take water from the ground and release it back into the atmosphere as vapor. Lastly, the continued planting of trees each year will help water scarcity. Trees help create soil hydraulic properties which help safely recharge groundwater with less potential of water-borne disease.

As a small non-profit founded in 2019, FarmSahel has come a long way and, with your support, our director has worked tirelessly for those in the position she once found herself in. Our objective remains to promote a sustainable agricultural system that will allow rural women farmers to have financial autonomy through agribusiness. Currently, FarmSahel is focused in 31 villages within the municipality of Bindè. We support 19 women's associations in the municipality.

To understand the needs of all farmers within Bindè, FarmSahel conducted a diagnostic workshop in November. The diagnostic workshop took place over the span of three days: from November 17th to the 19th. Workshops like these allow FarmSahel to bring individuals from different perspectives into one room. New problems, new ideas, and new solutions were able to flow freely from residents who face the problems daily.

Over 100 government leaders, religious leaders, displaced peoples, and farmers packed the conference room of the town hall of Bindè. The participants were split up into three groups and we dedicated one day for each group. Group one consisted of 40 people: Community leaders, technical services, and internally displaced men. Group two consisted of 50 people: Women from FarmSahel cooperatives and internally displaced women. Group three consisted of 10 people: The Mayor and his secretary-general, the commissioner of security, the Prefecture of Bindè, religious authorities from the Muslim, Catholic, and Protestant communities, and Traditional Chiefdoms. The Objective of each workshop was to collect information on the food security and the state of the local government, identify promising sectors in the municipality and strengthen the partnership between FarmSahel and community leaders.

While FarmSahel has done some great work, it is barely a scrape of the surface of what needs to be done to make a true and lasting impact on the people of Burkina Faso. To start, our immediate goal is to continue to seek financial support for the construction of a Well. The farmers of Burkina Faso are at the front-lines of the climate crisis we face and they need any help we are able to provide, big or small. Further, the political crisis in Burkina Faso continues. While the protests in late November were able to force a change in the Prime Minister and cabinet, violence still terrorizes the country. Just before the New Year on December 26th, 41 were killed after an alleged ambush on a convoy the Volunteers for the Defense of the Motherland were escorting.

FarmSahel is determined to continue to fight and support the women of Burkina Faso. With your help, we will continue to do everything we can to push for our purpose of unlocking the potential of women to achieve economic freedom through agribusiness. We call on those that have the ability to make a deep impact on negating the effects of climate change to act before our small efforts are made in vain. To the women of Burkina Faso, you have proven willpower that is incomparable.

Your continued support is what helps us provide these vital services to these women. Our recurring donors are making a continuous impact and we are truly grateful for the ongoing support. If you are not yet a recurring donor, we warmly invite you to consider setting up a recurring donation. $24 a month goes a long way.

Please also share this with your contacts and invite them to consider supporting our work. Thank you to everyone who has contributed to FarmSahel’s effort!

https://www.globalgiving.org/donate/65310/farmsahel-inc/

https://www.farmsahel.org/sponsor-a-farmer-24

https://www.farmsahel.org/donate

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/12/26/burkina-faso-declares-national-mourning-after-41-killed-in-attack

https://www.farmsahel.org/post/the-great-green-wall

https://www.globalgiving.org/projects/help-female-farmers-in-burkina-faso-grow/reports/#menu

Equipped: Fighting stigma and standing tall in the Sahel

Tue, 14 Dec 2021 15:00:00 GMT

The research, design, and development of farm technology has historically been reflective of the needs and preferences of men. Yet in Burkina Faso, where agricultural work is overwhelmingly carried out by women, ill-suited tools are both physically and economically burdensome, and their redesign ought to be informed by input from those meant to wield them. Stunting this evolution, however, are the myriad sociocultural and gender norms at play.

Behind the scenes, rural women are reshaping the food system, and with proper support can reshape the implements, practices and technologies needed to produce that food. In this way, they further empower themselves, their communities and women farming around the world.7

Two hands, and too few hours in the day.

Rural Burkinabé women take on a wealth of responsibilities from growing and harvesting food, trekking for firewood and water, preparing meals, child-rearing and, time-permitting, tending their own plots. Above all, it’s weeding that many consider the most strenuous, time-consuming task. Largely due to problematic implements available to women - hoes hewn from scrap metal, whose short handles force one into stooped labor - “weeding emerges as a priority area for introducing improvements in production technology”.1

Further contributing to labor assumed by women is the groundswell of men emigrating for work in neighboring cities, a “phenomenon so marked,” noted the FAO, that in Burkina Faso, women can comprise as much as 80% of the adult rural population.4 Despite this, men remain decision-makers of the house, dictating farming practices, controlling sales of produce and managing family finances.1

The women nonetheless face societal stigmas that question their worth. While working upright with long-handled hoes would increase productivity and decrease physical strain, doing so is commonly taken as a sign of indolence. While field researchers acknowledge that soil conditions may dictate the evolution of farm tools, they also note “an established cultural attitude that work in the field can only be done properly while bent double. Anything less is laziness.” 4

But these views, along with other gender-based constraints are being challenged both by local groups and international support.

Donkeys, bicycles, radios: a new toolkit for independence.

“Without a donkey,” insists Advocacy Officer, Rouguiatou Ka of Brooke West Africa, “Women play the role of a donkey themselves.” Exploring impacts of working animals on women’s empowerment in Burkina Faso, Ka herself grew up observing how draft horses improved the livelihoods of her Fulani parents. With donkeys, women can efficiently perform tasks, better provide for their families and gain financial independence - all contributing to improved standing within the community. “Without these animals, rural life would come to a standstill.”6

After the hand-hoe, many rural women cite animal traction technology as the next most effective level of mechanization, yet a slew of hindrances impede its adoption. Beyond lack of training and resources, socio-cultural barriers hold women back from owning cattle, though donkeys emerge as a promising solution. Not only more affordable and easier to train, there are fewer taboos preventing women from working with them. For one, there is no prestige associated with them beyond disvalued work animals fit for the poor.1

Regardless, Ka argues that donkeys “can be a tool for the emancipation of women”.6 In the Sahel, women, and the families they support, stand to benefit through the swift retrieval of drinking water and firewood, cultivation of land, and transportation of people and goods from field to market - not to mention speedier access to the hospital. Reduced time and exertion thus spent frees up time for women to gather in support groups and earns them greater degrees of financial independence, amassing supplemental income for school fees, medical care and unexpected family expenses. Bicycles, too, can be seen as time-saving production tools on account of the hours of walking time women could be spared.

Photo credit: Brooke/Xaume Olleros

One FAO study noted bike ownership may be rare among women in poorer areas: “Whenever a discussion group was held with men, almost all of them rolled up on their bicycles, whereas women almost invariably turned up on foot.”4 Investments in- or donations of bicycles could be as much a godsend as tractors. Brooke also partners with rural organizations providing carts to smallholders with working animals, helping them carry 1.5 tons of seeds to distribute among 32 villages. Ka urges the world to invest in such basic necessities for the immense good it would do in the lives of women.6

Amplifying women’s voices on the land & on air

Women’s groups, especially women farmers’ groups, have become an “important social force”1 in recent years. Alongside projects like Scaling Her Voice on Air, they provide rural women effective platforms through which to voice needs and opinions without being overrun by male-dominated views of their communities. Some groups even include a few men - a positive sign, as their presence can help move the community to address women’s needs, rather isolate them.

According to the Women’s Empowerment in Agriculture Index, informed by household surveys among both men and women in Burkina Faso, agricultural development interventions “present significant opportunities for expanding women’s autonomy and empowerment”.3 The recent BMC Women’s Health study suggests such agency can influence agricultural productivity, food security and health outcomes in the region. It also puts forth that “men need to feel they have a seat at the table” and may embrace more positive roles in the empowerment of their wives, daughters and women in the community.3

Meanwhile, Scaling Her Voice targets vulnerable West African farmers with a strong focus on the women among them. Led by Farm Radio International (FRI), the 2018-2022 project aims to scale interactive rural radio in these areas, hitting 61 stations and engaging as many as 70 stakeholder groups. The beneficiaries: 7.3 million small-scale farmers, including roughly 2.3 million women.5

Their agenda includes providing gender-responsive information on climate-smart agricultural adaptation, improved nutritional practices, bridging knowledge gaps among vulnerable small-scale farmers by addressing needs with mobile tools, and reinforcing evidence-based decisions at the community level.

Increasingly blurred distinctions among the roles of men and women, coupled with ongoing support from organizations like FarmSahel, The Brooke and FRI, could lead to historic changes in the lives of women across the Sahel, and among rural communities throughout the world.

Kienzle, Josef & Una, Murray. (2011). Tools used by Women Farmers in Africa.

Maria Jones and Timothy Harrigan. Agrilinks (2021). “Now we can Breathe" — Designing Mechanization to Benefit Women Smallholder Farmers.

Crookston, B.T., West, J.H., Davis, S.F. et al. Understanding female and male empowerment in Burkina Faso using the project-level Women’s Empowerment in Agriculture Index (pro-WEAI): a longitudinal study. BMC Women's Health 21, 230 (2021).

The potential for improving production tools and implements used by women farmers in Africa. A Joint IFAD/FAO/FARMESA Study. (1998).

The Food Crisis Prevention Network. (2018-2022). Scaling her voice on air in Burkina Faso, Ghana, Mali and Senegal.

Rouguiatou Ka, Brooke West Africa. The Brooke: Action for Working Horses and Donkeys. (2021) A Vital Partnership: Women and Donkeys in Burkina Faso.

Dana Cronin. Harvest Public Media. (2020). Farm Tools Were Designed For Men. That’s A Problem For The Increasing Number Of Female Farmers.

Getting Rural Farmers Access to more Capital

Fri, 10 Dec 2021 14:54:00 GMT

In Burkina Faso, 44% of the population lives on just $1.90 a day. Only 15% have access to checking accounts and 7% have the ability to utilize financial services. The people on the outskirts of society, needing assistance the most, are the ones who are left without any institution to turn to. The few banks that are established in Burkina Faso only attend to a few large clients who can spare items for collateral and can pay the high-interest rates. With gender inequality plaguing Burkina Faso, the financial sector is no different. It is close to impossible for women to receive credit. They are usually confined to lower-paid jobs in the informal sector and no legislation outlaws discrimination in access to credit. Even if someone had the means to borrow, they can be turned away based solely on gender and marital status.

Credit alone is difficult to attain in Burkina Faso, for rural farmers, it has been almost impossible. Traditional banks worry about climate conditions, lack of insurance, and lack of guarantees on output when investing in farmers. This led to farmers calling on the Head of State to create conditions that would allow access to agricultural credit and better food security. This band of farmers was able to oversee the creation of the Agricultural Bank of Burkina Faso in March 2019. Opening with about $24 million of capital, the Bank has allowed farmers to access traditional financial services. The Bank was also loaned about $10.8 million by the Agriculture Development Bank for the creation of agricultural insurance and a warrantage system.

Inventory credit, referred to as a warrantage system, allows farmers to invest more in their agricultural inputs and education. It also allows them to save money and increase consumption. It works by allowing farmers to store part of their harvest in a warehouse for several months, using the bags of crops as collateral. Instead of selling all their crops at the end of the harvest season when prices are low, they can adequately store their excess crops until the lean season. The prices during this time rise significantly allowing farmers to make higher profits.

Another way rural farmers are able to access credit is through microcredits. Microcredit is a small loan given out with a small interest rate. Unfortunately, this is not a governmental policy. Organizations and NGOs banded together to raise capital to test a microcredit system in rural Burkina Faso. This simple access to extra cash allowed farmers to invest in themselves. They bought livestock and agricultural inputs which increased their yield, increased their savings, and increased their food security.

Another way that financial access is improving in Africa and Burkina Faso is through Financial Technology or ‘FinTech’. With large swaths of the population unbanked, Africa has been a prime market for FinTech companies. As cellular and internet access are reaching more people, investors are flocking to the continent. This has led Africa to become the largest adopter of mobile money transfers. In Sub-Saharan Africa alone 70% of mobile money transactions took place. FinTech can reach low-income populations with relative ease allowing individuals to access banking services.

There are many different ways farmers of Burkina Faso are able to now access the financial institutions they were once completely shut out from. Unfortunately, the true relationship between farmers and banks isn’t as clear-cut, especially in the rural sector. Firstly, The Agricultural Bank of Burkina Faso can still deny women the right to use its services. Further, the agricultural bank is more for large-scale production of crops, not smallholder farms like the ones supported by FarmSahel. FinTech is also not doing much to help the rural women of Burkina Faso. While many across Africa are utilizing this new technology, cellular and internet connections have not reached most rural towns, leaving these families in the dark.

The most significant impact that has helped smallholder farmers is microcredits. Again, this is another example of small non-profits making the most lasting impact on a community. Through the microcredit pilot program, all but one of 37 households were able to pay their debt back on time. They saw an increase in yield, savings, and spending. The Burkina Faso government is still very young, the country is being thrown into turmoil but there are still positive steps being made to better the lives of farmers across the Sahel!

https://snv.org/update/civil-society-sustainable-family-farms-and-case-agricultural-bank-burkina-faso

https://borgenproject.org/credit-access-in-burkina-faso/

https://www.poverty-action.org/study/impact-inventory-credit-food-security-and-rural-livelihoods-burkina-faso

https://african.business/dossiers/fintech-africa/

https://www.brookings.edu/blog/africa-in-focus/2021/09/30/mobile-money-dominates-fintech-investment-in-africa/

Stormy weather at COP26 amid a “Colonization of the Sky”

Wed, 24 Nov 2021 15:30:00 GMT

“For the cost of flying to Glasgow, we could build a borehole in Togo and give clean water access to people.”1 - , Kaossara Sani , co-founder, , Act on Sahel .

As we eke out news trickling in from COP26 - some hopeful, some doubtful - the world is becoming wise to the fact that we’re hearing a lot of talk from a small few, and that there are voices missing.

Between the polished lines of speeches lay discussions of impossible debts and misunderstood origins of poverty and conflict. Unable to attend COP26, Sani nonetheless released her manifesto: “Climate justice for the 46 Least Developed Countries: Compensation for ecocide and the destruction of our ecosystems.”1

Photo credit: , Gabriela Vivacqua/WFP , via , All Africa

In it, she boldly addresses the carnivorous debt cycle that has lower income countries cornered. Left to spend five times more on debt than on coping with impacts of climate change, they can hardly deliver when devastation to their agriculture-driven economies is brought about by that same climate. And of funds provided thus far, over two-thirds are given as loans, ever worsening the debt cycle.2

Sani and her supporters are not staying home from the conference out of preference or protest. The world’s leading nations attend thanks to a wealth of access to vaccines and accommodations.2 Meanwhile, COVID restrictions halt those from countries with low levels of vaccination. Surging prices among hotels and hostels in Glasgow capitalizing on the summit - with the exception, perhaps, of one Scottish couple’s efforts in rallying locals to house delegates6 - don’t prove welcoming either.

“It is as Vanessa Nakate put it: [...] the climate crisis is a storm that affects us all, but we are all in different boats,” reflects journalist Chris Cummins, “Sometimes I think our European boat is, like the Titanic, playing waltzes and high-dining and not even looking at what’s coming.”2

For all their talk of millions and billions, many in attendance at COP26 lack the grounded understanding of climate variability’s specific effect on agricultural communities in regions like the Sahel. Nor do they sufficiently acknowledge efforts driven by locals, heed their guidance or lend proper support.

Increased unpredictability in the timing, duration or volume of rainfall, notes climate specialist, Pathé Sène, “means farmers are no longer sure when to sow and when to harvest.”4 While damages incurred by drought and flooding are well-documented, the changing climate also produces greater humidity, leading to more diseases among crops and livestock. And when land becomes unusable, livestock herders must move elsewhere for grazing land, which can lead to clashes with local farmers.3

"If there are fewer resources in rural areas, many young people will migrate to cities, often living in slums," notes Sène, "Or they can end up joining terrorist groups. [...] Finally, they may end up taking the boat and migrating to Europe." 3

But activists like Sani and her #ActOnSahelMovement are on the ground, the frontlines, planting seeds. They plant trees to push back against desertification, aid with irrigation projects and educate their communities.

Still, she urges us to call on G20 countries like our own to go beyond promises. Provide those most affected by unchecked industrialism and overconsumption with funds for local universities’ research and development on climate change, weather prediction, and methods of adaptation for agriculture.

“We urgently need climate adaptation science centers and technical institutes in every country, so that young people can obtain the knowledge and the skills that they need to innovate and produce solutions that will help their communities to adapt.”

The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), for one, appeals for more spending on adaptation, providing farmers with technology and practices suitable for the new climate they live in.3 Their "integrated climate risk management" project will span seven Sahelian countries as part of the Great Green Wall initiative. It aims to develop necessary infrastructure, including climate and weather stations to track data required for insurance against extreme weather events.3

“At Cop26, the west must show that it is now fit for the challenge and will finally fulfill its obligations. Only then will equity and justice become more than a mere slogan.”4 - Lazarus Chakwera, President of Malawi.

“ , Scots villagers throw open homes to African delegates during COP26 climate summit ”. UK Daily Record. October 28, 2021. Stuart MacFarlane.

The Government of Burkina Faso and It’s Policy for Farmers

Tue, 23 Nov 2021 15:30:00 GMT

Burkina Faso is a very young country only coming to its current form in 2017. It was in 1960 that this young country achieved independence from France then, in 1984, changed its name to Burkina Faso. During the first few decades after independence, the country was unstable and there were multiple coups each with a new leader. After almost three decades of strife, Blaise Compaore surmounted a final coup in 1987 that allowed him to stay in power for 27 years. When a new constitution was being formed in October 2014 for Burkina Faso an amendment limited presidents to two terms. Compaore attempted to scrap this amendment which sparked major and widespread protests. This led to Compaore stepping down and an interim government was implemented for a year. The new government took on a transitional role that overlooked the implementation of the constitution and organized Presidential and Legislative elections. In November 2015, Burkina Faso’s voters elected Roch Marc Christian Kabore as President.

The latest constitution of Burkina Faso was adopted in 2017 and established the Presidential Republic that oversees 13 regions. The President is only elected with an absolute majority popular vote and two rounds of voting are allowed if needed. Presidents are elected for five years and are limited to two terms. In the last election of 2020, President Kabore was reelected with generally open and fair elections. Some areas of Burkina Faso were threatened with conflict so polling places were non-existent or limited. The President is able to appoint a Prime Minister with the consent of the National Assembly. The National Assembly is the unicameral legislative branch of government. With 127 seats, representatives are elected based on the proportional vote of the people for each political party.

This new country is just healing the wounds of colonial rule and political strife. Economic growth is slowly progressing and the new government is implementing policies to better the agricultural sector which takes up about ⅓ of GDP and 80% of the labor force. A major political figure in the lives of farmers is the Minister of Hydro Agriculture Development, Salifou Ouèdraogo. In June 2020, the department created 368 hectares of arable land with water control. It allows for 663 different production plots which can produce plants in any season without major climatic restraints. In 2021, 640 more hectares of land are planned to be irrigated with water control. The new plots will help increase yield which will help towards the President’s initiatives of producing one million tons of paddy rice.

Another initiative set out by the agricultural department is new pilot farming plots. Each new plot has a solar borehole that will pump water into a water tower. They also have an irrigation system and fish ponds. These pilot plots cover just over 3 hectares and can produce a gross profit margin of 5.7 million francs.

Lastly, a major new department created by the government of Burkina Faso is The Central Supply of Agricultural Inputs and Equipment (CAIMA). This new department plans to ensure farmers have a regular supply of agricultural inputs and materials at a competitive price. At the moment, buying farm supplies, machinery and material costs a lot of money and the CAIMA is trying to lower that cost.

It is not just the Burkina Faso government that is trying to better the lives of farmers but Inter-governmental organizations are developing projects as well. The World Bank spent $470 million across Burkina Faso, Niger, and Togo to improve connectivity, security, and socio-economic opportunity. This money was focused on the Lomè-Ouagadougou-Niamey Corridor which is responsible for the transportation for 40% of Burkina Faso’s GDP and where 21% of the country’s population lives.

The World Bank is also focusing on a major part of farming that is usually left out; pasture farming. The World Bank is investing money to maintain, improve, and protect pastoral systems. This support will increase animal health, facilitate access to markets, and diversify pastoral farmers’ incomes. This project has also created infrastructure around water points, pasture for livestock, vaccination stations, livestock markets, and fodder storage.

The government of Burkina Faso and other intergovernmental organizations are diligently trying to alleviate the suffering of many farmers in the region. As this new country is slowly growing its economy, agricultural technologies are being brought in. As terror paralyzes the north and displaces millions of people, farmers need to meet the demand for food that is growing. Unfortunately, while the programs of the government and IGOs are helpful to some, rural farmers are the last to receive support. The plots of land that are being tested and constructed by the government are to help feed urban areas. Further, rural farmers barely have enough money to buy food and the CAIMA would be unhelpful because of the costs. That is why non-profits like FarmSahel are needed. Organizations like these are imperative to the well-being of those who are often forgotten, especially in a country fraught with drought and conflict. They focus on the families that need more simplistic factors that can help better their lives by providing better seed, education, fertilizer, and access to water. All missions that FarmSahel continues to strive for daily.

, https://www.worldbank.org/en/results/2017/06/29/burkina-faso-agriculture-as-a-powerful-instrument-for-poverty-reduction

, https://results.usaid.gov/results/country/burkina-faso

, https://agrilinks.org/sites/default/files/resources/jones_2019_planter_burkina_faso_tech_profile_final.pdf

, https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2021/07/07/supporting-africa-s-sahel-pastoralists-to-secure-a-resilient-future

, https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2021/07/15/a-new-us-470-million-project-to-advance-regional-connectivity-and-economic-opportunities-in-burkina-faso-niger-and-togo

, https://www.agriculture.gov.bf/accueil/details?tx_news_pi1%5Baction%5D=detail&tx_news_pi1%5Bcontroller%5D=News&tx_news_pi1%5Bnews%5D=93&cHash=07699086cfd01378b1ffe979a40ea659

, https://www.agriculture.gov.bf/accueil/details?tx_news_pi1%5Baction%5D=detail&tx_news_pi1%5Bcontroller%5D=News&tx_news_pi1%5Bnews%5D=79&cHash=1374780800c09c1983a02a12ff01f074

, https://www.agriculture.gov.bf/accueil/details?tx_news_pi1%5Baction%5D=detail&tx_news_pi1%5Bcontroller%5D=News&tx_news_pi1%5Bnews%5D=105&cHash=dce82fe462088208b50951167857a78b

, https://pubs.iied.org/sites/default/files/pdfs/migrate/9183IIED.pdf

, https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/burkina-faso/#government

, https://freedomhouse.org/country/burkina-faso/freedom-world/2021

Burkina Faso’s Exploding Humanitarian Crisis

Thu, 11 Nov 2021 15:20:00 GMT

“Burkina Faso is on fire and the deadliest epidemic right now is the widespread violence against civilians,” Manenji Mangundu said in an interview, the Country Director for the Norwegian Refugee Council. Burkina Faso has reached a devastating crescendo as one of the largest growing humanitarian disasters last year. Over one million people have been forced to flee the comfort of their homes in order to protect their lives. These attacks are mostly perpetrated by extremist Islamist groups such as Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State. While most of the terror has been concentrated in the north, it is slowly starting to spread throughout the country.

In January 2019, 87,000 people were internally displaced. As of August 2020, over one million people have been internally displaced within Burkina Faso. These unprecedented levels of displacement came as the coronavirus shook the world. Extremist groups frequently targeted hospitals, further hindering any sort of coronavirus protections attempted by local officials. These terror groups have also targeted schools, burning down over 16 schools between July and August of 2020, leaving 3,000 children without the infrastructure to learn.

Unfortunately, there have been atrocities committed on the other side of the spectrum as well. A 2019 law criminalized aspects of reporting on security forces’ operations. This precedent had a chilling effect on freedom of the press and human rights defenders. In 2020, it was revealed that the Burkinabé security forces were committing extrajudicial killings. This report led to other journalists being harassed for their reporting on the security forces. The sheer number of people has made the situation even more difficult for the Burkinabè security forces and the Burkina Faso government.

Many individuals who are suspected of being sympathetic to extremist organizations are being held in jail without trial due to the lack of defense attorneys. Further, the rapidly increasing number of displaced people has made federal aid virtually impossible to get. When it used to take just one week for displaced families to receive shelter and food, it is now taking over a month. As more people are displaced and with crumbling infrastructure to supply aid, more families are going hungry. In some parts of Burkina Faso, people are resulting to eating leaves or walking over 40 kilometers to a nearby town to find food, only to see prices skyrocketing.

One rural farmer named Mohammad fled his farm with his family due to violence. He said, “Here in Ouahigouya there is no assistance. Back home in Kombri, we have enough to feed ourselves but at risk to our lives.” It has been reported that one in ten people are food insecure in the country. At least 372,000 children under five and 88,500 pregnant or nursing women and girls are acutely malnourished in the Sahel.

The international community is taking some steps to help alleviate the devastating terrorist events unfolding in Burkina Faso. The European Parliament issued a statement denouncing the extrajudicial atrocities allegedly perpetrated by the Burkenabè security forces. They also allocated 4.5 billion euros in budget support for the G5 Sahel countries. In June 2020, France launched the International Coalition for the Sahel to coordinate among the G5 Sahel countries. France is also providing military training to troops and supporting security operations in the Sahel for counterinsurgency. The United States has trained over 3,000 Burkenabè soldiers and provided $2 million in counter-IED training programs. The US also allocated $5 million in anti-terrorism funding to help develop the investigative capacities of law enforcement for complicated terrorism cases. Lastly, the United Nations Office of High Commissioner for Human Rights committed to strengthening its presence in Burkina Faso. Further, in June 2020, with the increase in attacks on schools and the killing of children, the UN Secretary general, stated that Burkina Faso is, “a situation of concern for the UN’s monitoring and reporting mechanism on grave violations against children during armed conflict.”

While these are helpful measures that do go a long way, it is not enough. There are hundreds of thousands of families going hungry in Burkina Faso, foraging for anything to eat, and walking kilometers for clean water. FarmSahel is committed to continuing to train rural farmers. This will not only allow these farmers to grow greater yields for their families but also sell them at markets for other farmers who were displaced by the violence. FarmSahel is also quickly trying to allocate funding for a crucial well that will supply the area with guaranteed fresh water. It is small non-profits like FarmSahel that are making the most impact on the suffering families of Burkina Faso and it is the small donations that add up to the most change.

https://reliefweb.int/report/burkina-faso/record-one-million-displaced-violence-burkina-faso-amid-covid-19

https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2021/country-chapters/burkina-faso#

https://www.nrc.no/news/2021/september/burkina-faso-275.000-displaced-since-april/

https://reliefweb.int/report/burkina-faso/burkina-faso-conflict-displacement-and-impact-civilians-dg-echo-ingos-media-echo

https://apnews.com/article/ouagadougou-africa-burkina-faso-2434e8f754921f44140509249bfc48b5

https://apnews.com/article/africa-west-africa-burkina-faso-ouagadougou-7fa48ec67ed880a3f621781c0f33c467

Great Farming Ideas: PICS

Wed, 03 Nov 2021 03:18:00 GMT

Cowpeas are one of the staple foods of Burkina Faso. They are served to children in schools, served for home-cooked meals, and even used as fodder for livestock. Female farmers grow and sell the beans to make money to buy other necessities. So, an invention that would allow the beans to be stored safely, without the use of chemicals, would be a boon to the community. It would be a special aid to these entrepreneurial women, who could then sell the stored beans in seasons when the selling prices were higher.

A brilliant answer to the problem of safe, low-cost cowpea storage was designed by scientists at Purdue University. They designed PICS ( P erdue I mproved C owpea S torage) bags: three-layer, airtight, plastic bags. Initially, the bags were specifically designed to kill the cowpea weevil, an insect frequently associated with cowpeas as they are harvested. If the weevils are allowed to live in stored grain, they quickly multiply and destroy the saved beans. Thus, the beauty of these bags: weevils trapped in these bags quickly die from lack of oxygen. Subsequently, the bags were marketed for foods other than cowpeas, so the acronym PICS now stands for P erdue I mproved C rop S torage.

There are many advantages to the PICS bags. Their use is simple to demonstrate. Two sizes are offered, both holding manageable quantities. The bags are reusable unless visibly damaged. There is a local supply chain since the bags are manufactured in Africa and distributed throughout the Sahel.

Future studies of the bags include looking into other crops that can benefit from low-oxygen storage, designing bags with a fourth outer layer that can prevent rodent damage, and understanding the environmental impacts of creating and then disposing of worn plastic bags. A problem that governments, businesses, and NGOs must confront is the unscrupulous manufacturing and selling of counterfeit bags that are not airtight.

Sometimes the best inventions are the simplest. With PICS bags, not only can a mother save bags of cowpeas to feed her family, but she can also save them to sell when the seasonal market prices are highest.

How FarmSahel is Helping Alleviate Climate Change Pressure

Wed, 27 Oct 2021 13:48:00 GMT

Look outside your window right now. If you are in the United States, you most likely see a green plant that is one inch high, inedible, and everywhere; Kentucky Bluegrass. Households across the United States waste over 7 billion gallons of fresh clean drinking water every day watering their lawns. While we take our access to water for granted there are millions of people around the world who suffer from water insecurity. As climate change heats the planet, clean water sources are becoming harder to find. Water-borne diseases are upending families, children are taken out of school to walk for hours to find water, and people are choosing between hygiene and cooking as water reserves run low.

Burkina Faso’s vulnerability to climate change has made water a difficult commodity to find. Only 43% of the rural population have access to drinking water and 12% have access to basic sanitation services according to a 2015 study. This means that over 10 million people do not have clean drinking water. As the climate continues to heat up, as people continue to flee terror, and as covid-19 rages on, water insecurity will continue to be an issue.

A major factor in the scarcity of water in Burkina Faso is the number of displaced individuals from terroristic conflict. This has led to an increase in over exploration and worse sanitation conditions. Over 350,000 people have moved into the central region of Burkina Faso to escape violence. This increase has made the search for water more difficult. Many families are unable to take all they need knowing others need water as well.

As more water gets used and evaporated, rural women are walking kilometers a day just to find water, wait in line, and carry what little they are able to manage back to their homes. Washing hands, clothes, and hygiene takes a backseat to be able to water crops and cook food. With gender roles still very defined in Burkina Faso, women are in charge of the household chores, including managing crops, cooking, and fetching water.

Further, inadequate sanitation facilities have contaminated nearby water supplies. As only 12% of the rural population has access to sanitation infrastructure, a common practice is to dig pit toilets. These pits, however, increase the likelihood of contaminating nearby water when extreme rain brings flooding. In turn, an increase in water-borne diseases has made the simple necessity of drinking water a game of chance.

Another way FarmSahel is continuing its fight against climate change is through reforestation. In August, FarmSahel launched its’ first annual reforestation campaign. Through over-exploration and an increase in displaced people, trees have also become a scarcity. Some women have to walk just as far to find firewood as water. This annual reforestation campaign will help solve multiple issues at once. First, trees are a carbon sink taking the greenhouse gas CO2 out of the atmosphere and storing it in its’ bark, trunk, and roots. Further, trees help the weather cycle. As trees pull water from the ground, they release it back into the atmosphere as vapor. This helps alleviate extreme weather events such as high temperatures and extreme drought.

A major critique of reforestation is the perceived amount of water needed for trees to grow. Many argue, that especially in arid places, planting trees will do more harm than good. However, trees have a positive impact on groundwater for where they are planted. Instead of using up all the water, trees create soil hydraulic properties. This helps recharge groundwater and alleviate potential water-borne disease from infiltrating groundwater. Further, reforestation helps soil's infiltration so when heavy rain comes to an area, trees help seep water deep into the ground quickly, leaving less of a chance for crops being destroyed. Open areas with no tree cover have been found to keep water on surface level. This creates a large amount of runoff that destroys crops and hastens the evaporation cycle leaving groundwater reservoirs empty.

FarmSahel must continue its work to help alleviate climate change pressure. Rural women farmers are the most vulnerable to environmental disasters. Digging a well will cut down on times to fetch water, ensure water sanitation, and allow families to use water as needed. Not having to pick and choose between hygiene or cooking. As rich nations take turning a handle and expect water to flow for granted, the women in Burkina Faso are hoping that rain will refill closer water spots. Once FarmSahel is able to generate enough funding to bring a well to the area, this small change will have a generational impact on the community.

, https://www.circleofblue.org/2020/world/in-burkina-faso-clean-water-was-scarce-then-the-pandemic-hit/

, https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/17565529.2020.1790335

, https://www.msf.org/lack-water-growing-crisis-burkina-faso

, https://eos.org/research-spotlights/how-forest-structure-influences-the-water-cycle

, https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdfdirect/10.1002/2013WR015197

Cowpea: the most versatile crop in West Africa

Fri, 15 Oct 2021 14:37:00 GMT

FarmSahel recently made a generous 10,000 USD donation to 438 women of the rural village of Bindè which included pesticides and sprayers. However, the most important item and one that has the potential to kickstart the community’s economy and reduce food insecurity is the one ton of Cowpeas. This simple-looking grain is indigenous to West Africa and has been spread around the globe. This plant’s versatility makes it a useful crop for farmers from poor countries. The different uses for each part of the plant let it spread through multiple continents though its roots are still implanted in Africa. In West Africa alone, 10.5 million hectares of land are used for the cultivation of Cowpeas. The Food and Agriculture Origination of the United Nations estimated that 83.4% of the 6.99 tonnes of global cowpea production came from West Africa in 2016. The Cowpea is not a simple crop, it is ingrained into the culture of many West African villages.

The Cowpea plant itself is resilient to the conditions presented to the Bindè farmers. The plant fixates nitrogen allowing it to grow in low-quality soil. It is also drought-resistant so farmers do not have to rely on the continually shortening rainy season for Cowpeas to grow. This plant only takes about 55 days to mature. In turn, this lowers the hungry period that plagues families and stunts children in Burkina Faso and throughout West Africa. In addition to the growth benefits of this simple bean, the plant is used for multiple purposes throughout its life cycle. Early bean pods are used, similarly to snap beans, in recipes that have been passed down for generations. The leaves of Cowpea plants are essential for high-quality animal feed, nutrients for humans, and their market value. The peas themselves are very rich in nutrients and protein, making them ideal for reducing food insecurity. Correctly cultivating the Cowpea crop can be a major factor in helping the 20% of women and children suffering from chronic malnutrition in Burkina Faso.

While this simple plant seems to be a complete benefit to rural farmers, some major drawbacks are affecting plant output and the nutritional longevity of the leaves and grains of Cowpea plants. Most notably is the Cowpea’s short shelf-life once it is harvested. Handling, production practices, distribution, and market dynamics all contribute to a decline in the Cowpea’s beans and leaves nutritional value. Further, many rural farmers, including the women of Bindè, do not have the proper facilities to store Cowpeas and their leaves. This not only drastically lowers the nutritional content but also lowers the saleable value of the crop.

A second drawback is possessing the knowledge of farming the crop and using the correct technique to ensure the highest yield. According to a recent study by Owade et al. harvesting Cowpea leaves at specific intervals can increase yield. They found that stopping leaf harvesting entirely 7 weeks after emergence reduced grain yield by 50-70%. When increasing the frequency of leaf harvesting from 7-day to 14-day intervals, leaf yields increased by almost 100%. The cultivation, handling, processing, and storage of Cowpeas and their leaves can make all the difference. This is why it is imperative that FarmSahel continues to receive support to train and assist women farmers.

Known as the Orphan Crop in the academic community the Cowpea has been extremely understudied. Its use in poor countries has severely limited the profitability of research and development that goes into other crops. The few and limited Cowpea programs are trying to produce a plant that is more resistant to pests and diseases which are often a devastating issue in West Africa. With biotechnology accelerating rapidly, the ever-important Cowpea has gotten no attention. With more international support and research, the Cowpea plants can produce higher yields, have a longer more nutritional shelf life, and add additional desirable traits. Timko et al. explains that with modest support great molecular improvements can be brought to the Cowpea plant.

Until then, the Cowpea will continue to be an essential part of life in Bindè and West Africa but without proper understanding, technique, and cultivation of the crop farmers are not maximizing their gains. With more support, FarmSahel will be able to teach and support rural farmers about better farming practices and how to care for the life-saving Cowpea.

Owade, Joshua O., et al. “A Review of the Contribution OF COWPEA Leaves to Food and Nutrition Security in East Africa.” Food Science & Nutrition, vol. 8, no. 1, 2019, pp. 36–47., doi:10.1002/fsn3.1337.

Timko, Michael P, et al. “Chapter 3 Cowpea.” Genome Mapping and Molecular

Breeding in Plants, vol. 3, 2007, pp. 49–67., doi:10.1.1.475.2924.

Climate Change’s disproportionate effect on Women of Burkina Faso

Mon, 04 Oct 2021 02:04:00 GMT

In early August the IPCC released a harrowing account of what our current actions are doing to limit climate change. As the TV screen shows the smoke from fires in California or extreme floods in Germany, these nations have the income to help alleviate climate pressure. The people who are currently affected by the mere 1 degree Celsius increase from pre-industrial levels are the people living in extreme poverty and hardship.

One such place is Burkina Faso. Here, women farmers are being disproportionately affected by climate change due to strict gender roles. While Burkina Faso only emits 0.01% of global emissions it is ranked the 20th most vulnerable country to climate impacts. The men of Burkina Faso, who are able to get an education and seek out paid work, are not much affected by the change in weather. It is the women, whose responsibility is to take care of the house and provide food for the family, that have no control of the devastating impact climate change is having on the region. Due to these specific gender roles, climate change is having a disproportionate effect on women.

Women in Burkina Faso are responsible for a small outcrop of land that is usually already far away from water and has poor quality soil. Over the past 15 years, many farmers have seen an increase in sporadic weather, sometimes completely destroying their crops. According to the UN, heat waves, strong winds, and dust storms have degraded more than one-third of Burkina Faso’s land. By the middle of the 21st century, crop yields will be reduced by an additional 18 to 21%. While the climate is out of Women’s control it is still their responsibility to put food on the table for the family. This requires an extremely large workload to try and fight against climate change.

If a harvest is destroyed either by a lack of water or a major flood, it is the women of the household who have to decrease their food portions. This has led many nursing and pregnant mothers, girls, and women to suffer from malnutrition.

Water is the main issue for rural farmers impacted by climate change. There is either too much or not enough. If there is a major flood, women are not only responsible for cleanup, they still have to perform their gender-defined responsibilities. It is common for girls to miss school in order to help their mothers with the extra housework incurred by climate change.

These dire conditions have been present for some time; climate change has just made them worse. Desertification and over-exploration have dried up many of the water reservoirs previously used. Now women are walking farther simply to find water. Further, a major increase in deforestation has led to a further decrease in rainfall. This deforestation also forces women to walk longer distances to find wood.

When farming for the season becomes impossible women are forced into work. They do not get to enjoy the same jobs men do. Women do back-breaking work like shoveling sand to sell to construction companies, only to see their income drop dramatically. These jobs make school unaffordable for the children and force mothers to ration simple essential items. Since women are the ones responsible for the farms, they are most impacted by climate change. They are working in hotter and tougher conditions for less output. Unable to control what is happening to the climate around them, their only option is to adapt.

FarmSahel is taking major steps to alleviate this extra workload for rural women farmers. First, simply by providing livestock training during the dry season to help create extra income, FarmSahel is able to teach these women farming best practices. Further, FarmSahel has just concluded a reforestation campaign last August, which is scheduled to be annual. This reforestation will not only bring back soil fertility, but also be a carbon sink for the climate, and will allow women farmers to learn how to make organic pesticides using the leaves of the trees planted. Lastly, FarmSahel is looking for funding to build wells. This will be a major convenience for these women whose usual treks to water are becoming longer.

This is not enough to fix climate change. Major carbon producers still need to come to their senses and eliminate carbon emissions, move to electric vehicles, and create technology to take carbon out of the atmosphere.

, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0168192315000349

, https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Some-Leopold/publication/266449891_Economic_impact_assessment_of_climate_change_on_agriculture_in_Burkina_Faso_A_Ricardian_approach/links/552bf7be0cf29b22c9c2773d/Economic-impact-assessment-of-climate-change-on-agriculture-in-Burkina-Faso-A-Ricardian-approach.pdf

, https://www-cdn.oxfam.org/s3fs-public/file_attachments/rr-climate-change-women-farmers-burkina-130711-en_4.pdf

, https://www.reuters.com/article/us-burkina-climate-change-women/no-trees-no-crops-no-jobs-burkina-fasos-women-fall-back-on-hard-labour-idUSKBN2B706M

FarmSahel offers agricultural resources worth 5 million XOF (10,000 USD) to women in Bindé, Burkina

Wed, 21 Jul 2021 16:55:00 GMT

Farmsahel’s core mission is to empower rural women farmers through assistance, training, and donation. In order to further support rural women and help them walk one step closer to food security, FarmSahel has officially handed over agricultural resources worth five million XOF (10,000 USD) to women in Bindé, a rural village in Burkina Faso. The official ceremony took place on Friday, July 9th 2021 in Kaïbo-Centre, a village in the municipality of Bindé. One ton of Organic Cowpea, 438 bottles of sprayers, 438 organic pesticide, with a total value of 5 million XOF were donated to 438 women. According to FarmSahel’s in-country Board Member, Thomas Yameogo, this donation aims to "strengthen the resilience of households and communities in terms of food and nutrition security,” which once again enforces FarmSahel’s mission statement and core values.

FarmSahel's donation not only allows the women of the municipality to be financially independent but also allows students of the municipality to consume healthy food. This is through the local government, which has agreed to buy the foods produced and supply it to students.The mayor of Bindé Firmèn Conombo stated during his ceremony: "women do not have to worry because their production will be entirely bought by the local government for school canteens." Through this donation, both women and their children will reap the benefits of agricultural resources and feel the safety of nutrition security.

According to Bintou NANA, the womens’ representative, this donation is especially timely because it will allow women to take care of their children while paying for their education and seeking better, stable healthcare. She added: "Now that we are in charge of providing food for school lunch, we know what is being fed to our kids in school and that is organic food" . Eating nutritious, whole foods is vital to the health of everyone in the community, but especially important to young students who are still growing physically and mentally. A nutritious diet for children can help establish a foundation for healthy eating habits and nutritional knowledge that a child can apply throughout life. Under-nutrition causes children to have low energy and a disinterest in learning, which negatively influences cognitive development and academic performance. For these reasons, it is vital that children are fed nutritiously, which is now more than possible through FarmSahel’s help.

For Thomas Yameogo, this donation marks the continuation of FarmSahel's activities in the municipality of Bindé and is a window of FarmSahel’s ambitions. Rather than just handing seeds and pesticides to women to produce organic cowpea, we will accompany them with training and field visits to make sure they are using the pesticide the right way. Providing these women with a clear guide and step-by-step training is essential to reaching food security and an overall healthier, happier environment in Bindé.

FarmSahel will return in August for a reforestation campaign. The main goal moving forward is to build a training center to better serve our women farmers and create an agribusiness community.

How did COVID-19 affect African Economies?

Wed, 14 Jul 2021 02:29:00 GMT

During the past 16 months, the entire world faced daunting socio economic challenges amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. On December 30th 2019, an epidemiological alert was issued by the Chinese Wuhan local health authority of the emergence of a new strand of the coronavirus, which causes what has come to be known as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID19). Africa's first case of COVID-19 was recorded in Egypt in February 2020, followed by Nigeria in late February 2020. Early in March 2020, Algeria, Cameroon, Morocco, Senegal, South Africa, Togo and Tunisia reported positive cases. Soon enough, the virus spread to all over Africa and to other parts of the globe. While most people residing in the US are aware of the extent to which the pandemic affected the US economy, not many know of how it affected Africa’s. How was the pandemic handled by Africa’s government and how exactly is the economy recovering now?

Prior to the pandemic, Africa’s GDP growth rate of 3.6% was not enough to accelerate economic activity and reduce poverty. For the past two decades, Africa’s growth per capita had been largely dependent on domestic demand rather than increases in productivity. As a result, at the onset of the crisis in early 2020, the majority of Africa’s largest economies slowed down. While a few countries such as Ethiopia and Rwanda were showing high growth rates, they were rare exceptions to Africa’s deteriorating economic state. Both the oil and non-oil sectors became sluggish in countries like Nigeria and Angola, weighing down economic activity.

Similarly to previous pandemics, COVID-19′s channels of economic impacts include demand side and supply side channels. Demand side channels portray the effects on consumption,

investment, trade, and travel. With a newfound uncertainty spread across the globe, it was no surprise that people were working through avoidance and caution. On the other hand, supply side channels capture workforce and supply chain disruptions, countless business closures, and rising costs of doing business (World Bank, 2020). Africa has been hard hit by the COVID19 pandemic, with the African Development Bank estimating that economic growth in the continent shrank by 2.1% in 2020. Economic growth is forecast to resume at a moderate average pace of 3.4% in 2021 before leaping to 4.6% in 2022 (see Figure 1), underpinned by an expected rebound in domestic demand.

Figure 1: Africa- growth rates and projections

Apart from the 2.1% decline in economic growth in Africa, the African Development Bank (2021c) noted large exchange rate depreciations occurring partly due to disruptions in external financial flows, including remittances, foreign direct investment, portfolio investment, and official development assistance. Exchange rates across the continent remained about 5% weaker than levels before the pandemic, following the sharp depreciation in the first half of 2020. Furthermore, according to the African Development Bank (2021c), counterbalancing forces in Africa kept average headline inflation stable at 10.4% in 2020. However, core inflation in both energy prices and food prices has risen in many countries despite the fact that consistently weak demand helped contain inflationary pressures in some countries such as Kenya and South Africa during 2020. The new round of cuts in central bank policy rates caused the inflation rate to outtake the return on shortterm and longterm investments. Rising food prices not only affected household incomes and consumption, but also encouraged some governments to implement policy measures to improve food provision, support the agriculture sector, and provide cash transfers to the poor.

The daunting year 2020 observed a colossal increase in overall government debt, as economic activity and government revenues tumbled while pandemic-related spending rose sharply. Global public debt is estimated to have reached 98% of gross domestic product (GDP) at the end of 2020 compared with 84% in 2019 (International Monetary Fund, 2021a). In cash strapped economies such as those of Zambia and Angola, governments faced the conflict of debt restructuring as well. The growing debt emanated from requirements for emergency funds to support the health responses to the pandemic, as available resources were often insufficient to deal with the rapidly expanding problem.

The COVID-19 pandemic affected African economies both collectively and individually. The decrease in GDP, high unemployment rates, escalated poverty and food insecurity, as well as the increased prices of goods and services all point to the common crisis in all African countries. 16 months into this global pandemic, most people globally and in Africa still live in an acutely changed world—wearing masks, staying socially distanced, and avoiding travel. Enterprises are working towards overcoming the crisis and entering a workplace world of major changes. Recovery is forcing organizations to accelerate certain changes and see their own wants through a different lens. Recovery and progress will depend on how each economy controls their respective technology and innovations, combined with the appropriate framework and guidelines in all sectors of the economy.

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/1467-8268.12531

https://www.oecd.org/coronavirus/policy-responses/covid-19-and-africa-socio-economic-implications-and-policy-responses-96e1b282/

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/1467-8268.12531

African Economic Outlook 2020Supplement: Amid COVID19

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/1467-8268.12531

What is Agribusiness?

Sun, 09 May 2021 18:55:00 GMT

Here at FarmSahel, we use the term “agribusiness” quite often, but what exactly does this term mean, both in theory and in practice? This topic will be discussed in this post, allowing for a better understanding of, not only the term, but also FarmSahel’s goal when it comes to agriculture.

The term “agribusiness” was first coined at Harvard University in 1957. It is important to note the difference between agribusiness and simply farming, as the two terms are quite often used interchangeably. Agribusiness is a much broader term than farming, and it encompasses any enterprise in the agricultural industry that a farmer may take on. An agribusiness is not just concerned with the act of farming, but also in value-addition, marketing, entrepreneurship, microfinancing, and agricultural extension throughout their communities. A guardian article on the same topic describes agribusiness as "the collective business activities that are performed from farm to fork", so essentially any business actions that are taken between the farmer and the consumer of the product. As agriculture has become more industrialised, these actions have become more and more complicated, with a myriad of steps now existing between the farmer and the fork.

As one might guess, farming systems and agribusiness systems are incredibly complicated. There are many steps that food takes to get from the ground on a farm to a person’s dinner table. First, there are all of the factors that go into creating a successful farm, land, proper irrigation, seeds, and fertilizers must all be sourced first. Then, there is the input of labor and mechanics in order to actually grow and tend to the farm. Once the food is harvested, it must be sold. Either the food stays in the direct community, being sold at markets or to neighbors, or it is sold to a “middle man” who takes it for processing. With the global food system that currently exists, this processing step could take products all around the world, to be processed and refined into other goods. Once the product has reached its final form, it is then sold to a distributor and winds up either in a restaurant or on a grocery store shelf.

Agribusiness is often seen as a force for good when looking at countries in a development context, in that these techniques do not just allow farmers to grow more food, but can also allow them improve the business aspect of their farm. It allows them to leverage what they produce in order to get more money for their products. Much of the training farmers receive involves effectively growing more product, and not what to do with it after. A report from 2010 by the African Association of Agricultural Economists underscores this need. It speaks to the fact that the agricultural sector in Africa suffers from underdevelopment because of a lack of investment in the business and education side. With the proper agribusiness education and focus, Africa can grow a vibrant food market where farmers are paid well for what they produce.

Our trainings provide the tools that farmers need in order to make smart decisions around their product, and to navigate the complicated agribusiness world with ease, allowing them to be properly paid for the food that they produce.

Wikimedia Foundation. (2021, May 2). Agribusiness. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agribusiness.

Merriam-Webster. (n.d.). Agribusiness. Merriam-Webster. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/agribusiness.

Guardian News and Media. (2013, April 2). How can agribusiness work best for development? The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/global-development-professionals-network/2013/apr/02/live-debate-agribusiness-global-development.

Mabaya, E., Christy, R., & Bandama, M. (n.d.). (rep.). The Current State of Agribusiness Education and Training in Africa.

The Role of Fertilizer

Fri, 30 Apr 2021 14:08:00 GMT

One of the ways that FarmSahel helps women farmers throughout the Sahel region is by equipping them with proper fertilizer. Fertilizer plays an important role in agriculture, often allowing for higher yields from crops. This post will discuss the importance of fertilizer, and its role as an agricultural development tool.

Like many other farming tools, the use of fertilizers dates back to ancient times. Ancient civilizations such as the Egyptians and the Babylonians were recorded to have used naturally occurring minerals and manure in order to help with plant growth, and increase the productivity of their farms. Throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, as farming became more industrialized, so did fertilizers. Fertilization was no longer defined by farmers using existing resources in their areas. Now it spawned giant corporations, with the goal of creating better engineered fertilizers that would help with crop production and yield. Like in many other cases, African farmers did not feel the impact that fertilizers were having on North American and European farmers, as they continued to use rudimentary fertilization methods.

Soil itself is incredibly important to plant growth, and is one of the reasons why fertilizers have been so critical throughout agricultural history. Plants require 17 essential elements, and the lack of even one of them can lead to suboptimal plant growth. Of all of these necessary elements, the primary macronutrients, such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, are the most needed. At the same time, they are most likely to be lacking in typical agricultural soils. In addition to this, farming often can harm soil in the long term. Consecutive farming in an area can alter, and even deplete, the nutrients in that soil. In this way, fertilizers are often a requirement in consecutive farming, to ensure that the soil in a farmed region is still viable.

There is also empirical evidence regarding the role of soil in a development context. According to a study conducted by John McArthur and Gordon McCord, looking at agricultural input and their effects on economic development, it was found that fertilizer can increase economic growth. The study fixed other inputs such as human capital, and simply focused on the impacts of agricultural tools, such as fertilizers. They found that with all controls in place, fertilizer played a strong role in helping to expand agricultural production. This outcome is consistent with other agricultural research on the subject.

Another study focused on Afghanistan and the ability of fertilizer to increase food production throughout the country. The study provided Afghan farmers with fertilizer as a farming tool, and then studied the change in their crop outcomes. After providing fertilizer to around 200,000 Afghan farmers, the study found that one kilogram of fertilizer produced an extra five kilograms of grain for farmers. The fertilizer also led to a large net increase in profits for farmers of $2.25 million, as they were able to produce more crops which they could then sell. Finally, the study found that fertilizer was an incredibly cheap development tool, with the cost being around $8 per farmer, to provide them with an adequate amount of fertilizer. This return on investment is obviously high, and shows that providing farmers with fertilizer can lead to much higher crop outputs, for a low cost.

Both the scientific and empirical evidence shows that fertilizer can be used as a tool to help increase crop yields, especially in developing countries. By providing fertilizer to small, women farmers throughout the Sahel region, Farm Sahel is providing them with the tools they need to produce more food, for themselves, their families, and their communities.

History of fertilizer. (2021, February 22). Retrieved April 01, 2021, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_fertilizer

John W. McArthur, Gordon C. McCord, Fertilizing growth: Agricultural inputs and their effects in economic development, Journal of Development Economics, Volume 127, 2017, Pages 133-152, ISSN 0304-3878, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jdeveco.2017.02.007.

Gregory, D., & Roy, A. (n.d.). Fertilizer & Food Security: IFDC Voucher Program for Farm Inputs. Retrieved from https://www.agrilinks.org/sites/default/files/resource/files/IFDC%20Voucher%20Paper.pdf

The Importance of Farmer Training

Thu, 22 Apr 2021 17:55:00 GMT

A large focus of FarmSahel’s efforts throughout the Sahel region involves equipping women farmers with the proper training on all aspects of farming. Proper agricultural training is lacking throughout this region, with only around 1 on 4 African farming households having received agriculture training. Even within those households, only 20% were female headed, showing the need for agricultural training, especially for women. In this post, we will be discussing why these trainings, and the training of women farmers in general, is so important to increase food sovereignty and output throughout the Sahel and Africa as a whole.

Firstly, it is important to understand the food and farming situation in rural Sub-Saharan Africa. This agricultural landscape is characterized by a high number of people engaged in agriculture, but a low output. Most estimates say that as many as 80% of the rural population, while around 20% of the overall population is food insecure. Obviously, there is a divide, where farmers are not able to produce enough food to feed themselves and their families.

In general, trainings, like the ones that FarmSahel provides, teach important skills to farmers. They teach farmers how to properly utilize the new technology, and instruct women on the business aspect of farming, allowing them to profit from their wages. All aspects of such training allow farmers to, not only be more productive in terms of agriculture, but also how to properly leverage their crops once grown. Trainings helps to make up the gap that exists between the amount of labor put in and the output of most farming in the Sub-Saharan region.

Many studies have shown that farmers can be effective at running such trainings and workshops. It is important to have farmers involved in the teaching and building of such programs, as they are the ones with the most knowledge about what it is actually like to work the land. Additionally, these farmers can help specialize training programs to specific regions, maximizing effectiveness. Programs that work for certain regions, even in the same country, might not work in others, due to differences in crops, soil and conditions. Many times, these programs and training are taught either by volunteers within the country or by fellow farmers, who are trained at facilitating them.

Farmer to farmer trainings were shown to work in Uganda, in 2017. In this project, the goal was to increase the production of dairy farmers throughout Uganda only using farmer-to-farmer training. Staff from the The East Africa Dairy Development Project were able to train numerous farmers on how to effectively utilize new milking technology, along with best practices for dairy farming. These trained farmers were then sent back to their villages, with the new technology to assist with teaching and implementation. The study found that these teaching farmers were able to accomplish the project's goal of increasing milk production throughout the region. Milk production in villages with trained farmers increased more than milk production of those without. Overall, the study concluded that farmers can be incredibly effective as teachers for other farmers.

The evidence from this study shows that trainings, including ones conducted by fellow farmers, can help increase agricultural productivity. Trainings, such as the one above, are the bedrock of many other pushes to increase agricultural productivity within the region. Farmers cannot be expected to know how to properly utilize new technologies without training, and thus, any technologies implemented without proper farmer training could very well be rendered useless.

The impact of Farmer-to-Farmer training on agricultural productivity in Uganda: The Abdul LATIF Jameel Poverty Action Lab. (n.d.). Retrieved April 07, 2021, from https://www.povertyactionlab.org/evaluation/impact-farmer-farmer-training-agricultural-productivity-uganda

Farmer education & Agricultural Extension. (n.d.). Retrieved April 07, 2021, from http://12.000.scripts.mit.edu/mission2014/solutions/farmer-education-agricultural-extension

The Importance of Proper Seeds

Fri, 26 Mar 2021 21:01:00 GMT

Seeds are obviously critical to farming, as they are where the crops themselves come from. Without seeds, there would be no agriculture and thus no food. For hundreds of years, humans have been working to produce better seeds. Seeds that hold up during dry seasons or rough weather, and seeds that produce larger and more nutritious crops. Key species such as wheat and rice have been selectively bred by humans in order to make them easier to grow and more nutritious. This is why proper seeds are so important to agriculture in Africa, with them, farmers are more easily able to grow greater quantities of high quality crops.

While many think that seeds can just be gathered from previous harvests, many farmers within Africa buy seeds for various reasons. These reasons can include bad harvests or natural disasters, which can wipe out crops and stored seeds, along with simply wanting better or different seeds. Farmers generally obtain seed from either neighbors or grain markets in their local areas. Much of Africa lacks commercial seed, as many seed companies do not find it profitable to expand their operation into the continent. Likewise, seed distribution in many areas is often monopolized by one seed distributing company, who oftentimes only provides one type of seed and fixes prices throughout the area. The systems through which seeds are distributed throughout Africa are inefficient and expensive, making it hard for many African farmers to obtain the seeds that they need for their farming efforts.

However, Africa also has large problems with seeds, especially when it comes to fake seeds and seed distribution. Fake seeds are when non-seeds, such as regular grain, are passed off as seeds. This regular grain is unable to germinate, and are all but useless to the farmer. The issue of fake seeds is prevalent in Africa, with small farmers often tricked by seed distributors into buying these fake seeds, threatening their livelihoods. Many countries throughout Africa and in the Sahel region do not have proper measures in place to stop these practices, and many cases of fake seeds go unreported. However, countries such as Nigeria are implementing measures to crack down on fake seeds. Nigeria has launched electronically coded seed labels, that farmers can use to ensure that they are buying authentically certified seed.

In addition to fake seeds, there is the issue of “subprime seeds”. These seeds are procured from informal markets, which often do not allow for quality checks. These seeds are usually suboptimal, and can cause diseases to crops throughout a farm. Subprime seeds are a rampant problem throughout Africa, with 92% of sorghum seed, 84% of millet seed, 93% of groundnut seed, 93% of common bean seed and 88% of cowpea seed reported to be from informal sources. Through both fake seeds and subprime seeds, many small African farmers can accidentally waste their money and resources by investing in seeds that will not produce proper crops for them. These threats of fake and subprime seeds show just how important seeds are to small farmers throughout Africa, and how critical it is that they are supplied with proper, real seeds for their agricultural needs.

When farmers have proper seeds, it can transform their farming and create agricultural independence and prosperity throughout Africa. As we have discussed before, large numbers of people within Africa are employed in the agricultural industry, with about 60% of all Africans working in farming. However, the continent still does not produce enough food to feed its population, causing the continent to spend around 35 million US dollars per year to import food. Studies have shown that seeds can help with this issue. For example, a project in Uganda gave Ugandan farmers access to proper seeds, the project found that these seeds produced higher yields for farmers, allowing them to improve their lives. Seeds can improve the productivity of farmland, and can help Africans with their goal of independence and prosperity.

Sources:

Towards a VIBRANT, private-sector Led seed industry in Africa. (2020, June 22). Retrieved March 25, 2021, from https://www.agrilinks.org/post/towards-vibrant-private-sector-led-seed-industry-africa

Ojiewo, C. O. (2021, February 06). Higher quality seeds can help beat Africa's 'HUNGER PANDEMIC'. Retrieved March 25, 2021, from https://theconversation.com/higher-quality-seeds-can-help-beat-africas-hunger-pandemic-153916#:~:text=Farmers%20in%20Africa%20often%20procure%20seed%20from%20informal,seed%20were%20reported%20to%20be%20from%20informal%20sources.

Thijssen, M. (2019, March 27). Seeds for Africa. Retrieved March 25, 2021, from https://weblog.wur.eu/spotlight/seeds-for-africa/

Agricultural transformation and seeds. (2019, March 15). Retrieved March 25, 2021, from https://www.africa-seeds.org/en/our-mission/agricultural-transformation/

Tripp, R. 2000. Strategies for seed system development in Sub-Saharan Africa: a study of

Kenya, Malawi, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Working Paper Series no. 2. PO Box 776, Bulawayo,

Zimbabwe: Socioeconomics and Policy Program, International Crops Research Institute for the SemiArid Tropics. 56 pp.

The Potential of Women in the Sahel

Mon, 22 Mar 2021 14:31:00 GMT

Last week, we focused a lot on the struggles that women throughout the Sahel face, and the steps being taken to overcome them. This week, we will be focusing on the potential of women throughout the Sahel, and their ability to reshape their region of the world.

We have clear evidence that women’s empowerment and gender equality help fight food insecurity and are some of the most powerful tools to lift families out of poverty. For example, a UN Food and Agriculture Organization report from 2010 found that equal access to farming and agricultural resources could reduce hunger throughout the world by 12% to 17%. A similar study found that if women had access to the same resources as men, the number of hungry people world-wide would decrease by around 150 million, and agricultural outputs would subsequently rise by 20-30%. Since women make up around 70% of agricultural workers throughout the Sahel, it can be theorized that the benefits would be even greater there. An increase in equality in farming would additionally allow more security in the food supply in the Sahel, a region that faces chronic food insecurity and shortages.

Women can also be incredible assets to help combat the growing problem of climate change and desertification throughout the Sahel. A study by CGIAR Research Program on Water, Land and Ecosystems found that women, specifically rural women, could be the missing link in halting climate change and restoring ecosystems. Overall, it was seen that women and men use natural resources in different ways. The study saw the women were more likely to use conservation methods when it came to farming, and were more open to ecological practices than men. The research found that by amplifying women’s power over agriculture and choices, they could be a powerful force in protecting ecological landscapes throughout the world.

In addition to women’s abilities to bring positive change to food security and climate change, women’s empowerment has also been shown to have a direct impact on economic development. The Secretary General of the United Nations, Kofi Annan, has argued that gender equality is a “prerequisite” for achieving the UN millennium development goals. Empirically, there is a strong connection between economic development and women’s rights. A study by scholars Doepke and Tertilt showed that there was a negative correlation between lack of women’s rights and GDP per capita within a country. The main explanation for this phenomenon is that women are often more dedicated to their families, and thus, any money that they earn returns to their family at higher levels than men. Additionally, women are active players and members of a society, so it would make sense that their empowerment and ability to earn their own income would increase the economic development within a nation.

Finally, women are experts and have the ability to be changemakers on an issue that is paramount to the Sahel region, peace and peacemaking. In the Sahel region, women are often excluded from the security and peacemaking sector, silencing their voices on issues important to them and their communities. However, evidence shows that peace deals and treaties are more effective when women are involved in the process. A 2015 study of 156 peace agreements from around the world concluded that peace agreements were more likely to stay in place and bring an end to violence when women were involved. A different study of peace agreements from 1989 and 2011 found that when women were included in negotiations, an agreement had a 35% higher chance of staying in place for 15 years or more. Women in the peacemaking process place more emphasis on issues such as reconciliation, economic development, education, and transitional justice, which have all been found to increase the durability of peace deals. This peacemaking ability is critical in the Sahel region, as Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger have all suffered from deteriorating security situations over the past few years. Women’s involvement can help lead to more durable agreements, and lasting peace through the region.

Women’s empowerment can lead to beneficial outcomes throughout the sectors of agriculture, the environment, economic development and peace. However, that is not even a fraction of the world changing ability that women have. Women’s empowerment can truly change the Sahel, and the world, for the better.

Sources:

Are women the secret weapon in the battle for Food Security? | LES ROOPANARINE. (2013, March 05). Retrieved March 17, 2021, from https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/poverty-matters/2013/mar/05/women-secret-weapon-food-security

By. (n.d.). Sahel women have the potential to solve food insecurity in the region. Retrieved March 17, 2021, from https://www.diplomaticourier.com/posts/sahel-women-have-the-potential-to-solve-food-insecurity-in-the-region

Rural women are the missing link in ecosystem restoration programs. (2019, October 25). Retrieved March 17, 2021, from https://wle.cgiar.org/thrive/2019/10/14/rural-women-are-missing-link-ecosystem-restoration-programs

Women's role in peacemaking. (2017, November 17). Retrieved March 17, 2021, from https://maryknollogc.org/article/women%E2%80%99s-role-peacemaking#:~:text=Women%E2%80%99s%20role%20in%20peacemaking%20Women%20are%20the%20largest,published%20in%20the%20November-December%202017%20issue%20of%20NewsNotes.

Forum, P. (2020, November 03). Amplifying women's voices to build peace in the Sahel. Retrieved March 17, 2021, from https://parispeaceforum.medium.com/amplifying-womens-voices-to-build-peace-in-the-sahel-c9f43b3f70ad

Duflo, E. (2012). Women empowerment and economic development. Journal of Economic Literature, 50(4), 1051-1079. doi:10.1257/jel.50.4.1051

The History of Women's Rights in the Sahel Region

Sun, 14 Mar 2021 20:48:00 GMT

The status of women and their rights in the Sahel is among the lowest in the world. Out of 152 countries listed in the UN Gender Inequality Index, Niger ranks 151, Chad 150 and Mali 148. Most women within this region don’t enjoy the same opportunities as men, due to both systemic, legal and cultural factors.

To begin, women are chronically undereducated throughout the region. While some Saharan countries, such as Burkina Faso and Ghana, have worked hard to close the primary school gap between boys and girls, countries such as Chad and Liberia still have incredible education gaps. For example, the illiteracy rate for women in Chad between the ages of 15-24 is twice as high for women as it is for men. This lack of education once again stems from both cultural and legal barriers. Many women in this region are forced into early marriages by their families or communities, cutting their education short.

Women’s ability to obtain work outside the home is incredibly limited in this region. Studies by OECD have found that 17% of men throughout West Africa do not think that it is acceptable for a woman to work outside the home. There are also additional legal barriers that prevent women from obtaining jobs in various industries, with Senegal and Benin each having 13 legal provisions restricting a women’s right to work. On this note, women are additionally lacking in government throughout the Sahel region. In Nigeria, only 5% of the parliament are female, and only one country in the region has a parliament that is more than a quarter female. Both the cultural beliefs and the legal provisions force many women into the informal sector, and into low paying jobs.

In addition to working low-paying jobs, women oftentimes bear the majority of the burden of “unpaid work”. Unpaid work usually includes activities such as child-care, cooking, cleaning and collecting water. On average, women in Saharan Africa spend six times more time than men on unpaid care work. While the ratio does vary across countries, this undue burden on women allows them less time for any other activities.

While the odds against women in this region of the world might seem high, there are steps being taken to address gender inequalities and help raise the status of women. One way that many countries are combating gender inequality is by adopting national gender strategies and implementing legislative reforms. Legislative reforms are incredibly important in the field of child marriage, which is one of the largest reasons why many girls drop out of school early. All West African countries are signatories of the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa. Additionally, countries such as Côte d’Ivoire, Mali and Sierra Leone have adopted laws establishing equal pay for equal work. These laws ensure that women are paid the same as men, ensuring that they can obtain the economic means to help lift themselves out of poverty. Finally, both the African Union and many of the countries throughout the region are putting women’s empowerment at the forefront of new policies.

While there is still much work to be done in the region, both governments and NGOs, like FarmSahel, are working to empower women throughout the Sahel region.

Sources:

-Development Matters. (2018, March 12). Gender equality in West Africa? The key role of social norms. Retrieved March 12, 2021, from https://oecd-development-matters.org/2018/03/08/gender-equality-in-west-africa-the-key-role-of-social-norms/

-Investing in girls and women's empowerment in and beyond the sahel. (n.d.). Retrieved March 12, 2021, from https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2020/05/28/investing-in-girls-and-womens-empowerment-in-and-beyond-the-sahel

-Laurent Bossard Director of Sahel and West Africa Club (SWAC) - OECD, Bossard, L., & Director of Sahel and West Africa Club (SWAC) - OECD. (2018, July 03). Sahelian women, both central and marginal. Retrieved March 12, 2021, from https://ideas4development.org/en/sahelian-women-central-marginal/

The Importance of Irrigation

Wed, 10 Mar 2021 20:42:00 GMT

Following up our article last week on the importance of mechanization in farming, this week’s post will be tackling the topic of irrigation, and its importance in farming. A goal of FarmSahel is to improve irrigation for farmers throughout the Sahel region, allowing them to increase their agricultural productivity.

Irrigation is the “artificial process of applying controlled amounts of water to land to assist in production of crops.” Irrigation as an agricultural tool dates back thousands of years, with the earliest instances of irrigation being seen in 6000 BC in Egypt and Mesopotamia. Ancient Egyptians realized that they could divert water from the roaring Nile river to water the crops in the dry season, learning to build dams and canals up to 20 kilometers in size. A similar process took place in Mesopotamia, where early people used similar systems of irrigation to prevent flooding in the rainy season and keep crops watered during the dry season. As agriculture progressed, so did irrigation technology. Currently, much of the world’s irrigated land is irrigated using modern techniques, such as localized irrigation and sub-irrigation, however, traditional irrigation techniques are still often used. In 2012, a staggering 801 million acres of land throughout the world was equipped with irrigation technology.

Irrigation is also seen as a way to increase the output of farms. A study by the World Bank found that while irrigated land only makes up 20% of farm land world-wide, it produces 40 percent of the total food produced worldwide. The same study also found that irrigated land was on average twice as productive as unirrigated land that is only sourced by natural water. This increase in productivity is due to the many benefits of proper irrigation. For example, land that is properly irrigated is able to have multiple crops per year, increasing their output. This practice can be seen in India, where well-irrigated land can produce two to three separate harvests per year. Proper irrigation also protects farm land from traditional problems such as drought, as the crops have access to proper water sources. Overall, irrigation not only increases land productivity, it can secure uninterrupted agriculture.

In addition to increasing crop yields, irrigation is directly linked to economic growth and poverty reduction in developing areas. A World Bank study reflecting on 10 years of Water Management in Agriculture found that there was a strong correlation between the impacts of irrigation on crop productivity and poverty alleviation. The study also looked at the impact of irrigation on wages, finding that wages increased as irrigation increased. The increase came not just from the higher paying jobs produced by implementing irrigation technology, but by the higher profits made once that technology was implemented. It was found that irrigation was one of the development methods that had the highest impact on reducing poverty in poor areas. Moreover, the study cited irrigation as one of the reasons why many South Asian countries, such as Vietnam, were able to have such unprecedented economic growth over the past few decades.

However, Sub-Saharan Africa suffers from an acute lack of irrigation. Only around 6% of land in Africa is equipped with irrigation, compared to 18% on average for the rest of the world. The lack is even more acute in many of the areas that FarmSahel directly serves, with only around 1% of the land in Burkina Faso being irrigated. East Africa, as a whole, is under irrigated, with only 2.6% of land being equipped for irrigation. Much of this lack of proper irrigation goes hand and hand with the difficulty of irrigation as a development mechanism. Much of the irrigation work is carried out by governing bodies, since irrigation projects tend to be large, long and costly. Additionally, the water used for irrigation tends to be under the control of a country’s government, meaning that countries with weak or ineffective governments can struggle with irrigation projects. Finally, many governments and international development organizations fail to properly invest in irrigation as a poverty alleviation method, viewing it as too costly and time consuming.

The proper irrigation of farms needs to be of a higher concern when looking at development in sub-Saharan Africa. It is proven to increase crop yields, wages and alleviate poverty. That is precisely why implementing irrigation systems is a large focus of FarmSahel, and our efforts to empower farmers throughout this region.

-Water in agriculture. (n.d.). Retrieved March 03, 2021, from https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/water-in-agriculture

-Easy Irrigation. (n.d.). A History of Agricultural Irrigation. Retrieved March 03, 2021, from https://www.easy-irrigation.co.uk/a-history-of-agricultural-page-29?zenid=lfj63vbtnosl7h00mb9jsm43d1#:~:text=The%20earliest%20known%20systems%20of%20irrigation%20began%20in,otherwise%20they%20would%20be%20unable%20to%20do%20so.

-Importance of Irrigation. (n.d.). Retrieved March 03, 2021, from https://civiltoday.com/water-resource-engineering/irrigation/63-importance-of-irrigation-system#:~:text=%20Importance%20of%20Irrigation%20%201%20Agriculture%20is,of%20seeds.%20With%20the%20help%20of...%20More%20

-Irrigation. (2021, February 08). Retrieved March 03, 2021, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irrigation

-You, L., Ringler, C., Nelson, G., Wood-Sichra, U., Robertson, R., Wood, S., . . . Sun, Y. (n.d.). What Is the Irrigation Potential for Africa? International Food Policy Research Institute.

-T. (n.d.). Water Management in Agriculture - Ten Years of World Bank Assistance, 1994–2004 Ten Years of World Bank Assistance, 1994–2004. The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development / The World Bank. doi:10.1596/978-0-8213-6904-3

Why is mechanized agriculture important?

Thu, 04 Mar 2021 02:57:00 GMT

Mechanization in agriculture is the process of replacing human and animal labor, with mechanical power wherever possible. It is meant to reduce the strain on farmers and increase productivity. Right now, most farming that takes place in sub-Saharan Africa is un-mechanized. Over 60% of farm power is still provided by human muscle, mostly from women, the elderly and children; 25% of farm power is provided by animals, while less than 20% of agricultural practices are aided by engine power.

The mechanization of agriculture goes all the way back to the beginning of human cultivation of crops. Ancient civilizations soon learned that they could use animal labor in order to lessen the amount of work while increasing their harvests. Later, they developed tools such as sickles in order to aid with the work. However, mechanized farming truly took off during the industrial revolution, when humans used technology in order to strengthen their farming practices. Inventions such as the combine harvester and the threshing machine allowed the output of farms to increase exponentially. For example, it was said that each horse-pulled reaper freed up five men when they were first put on the market in the 1830’s. This transformation of agriculture via machine has led to the world we have today, where a small amount of people are able to provide food for much of society. For instance, in America, only around 1.3% of the population are farmers, showing how little of the workforce is actually engaged in food production. However, not all parts of the world have felt this mechanization effort equally. As stated above, in sub-Saharan Africa, the vast majority of farming is still done by hand, with around 65% of sub-Saharan Africa’s population relying on subsistence farming.

Much of this farming is done by women, leading to an overwhelming burden of work. For example, weeding, a farming activity that is often considered the most time consuming is generally performed by women. Increasing mechanized farming in the region would decrease women’s workload, allowing them more time for other activities. It would also improve their general health, as they would have to spend less time doing physically demanding tasks. Mechanization is a women’s issue when looking at the context of sub-Saharan Africa, and is one of the reasons why FarmSahel focuses on women’s empowerment throughout the region.

Lack of mechanization in Sub-Saharan agriculture is part of the reason why there are such high levels of poverty in this region. Farmers cannot get the maximum output from their lands, leading to food shortages and over-working of farmers and their families. Farming in this region is characterized by “an excessive reliance on human power” and “low productivity of human labour.” This issue additionally leads to less and less farmers, as farmers choose instead to pursue other options within cities.

In addition to the problems presented by lack of mechanization, it has often been overlooked in a development context. Oftentimes, development organizations opt to simply give people food, instead of actually giving them the resources to grow their own. This leads to mechanization being ignored as an option for development in many sub-Saharan countries. There is also the issue of mechanization being a tough issue to handle, as different farming contexts need different technology. For example, many farmers in sub-Saharan Africa are subsistence farmers, meaning that something like a tractor would not be productive for them. A tractor is better for farmers with larger plots of land, or collective plots of land. This need for specialization of equipment provides an additional hurdle to this process.

Mechanization of farming in Sub-saharan Africa is a solution to the systemic problem of poverty and lack of food within the region. International organizations should focus more on the issue of mechanization, by talking with farmers to learn their needs and then providing them with the proper technology.

Sources:

Aditya, H. (2016, August 18). Mechanization of Agriculture: Meaning, benefits and progress. Retrieved February 24, 2021, from https://www.economicsdiscussion.net/india/farming/mechanization-of-agriculture-meaning-benefits-and-progress/21655

Hanson, S. (2008, May 28). Backgrounder: African agriculture. Retrieved February 24, 2021, from https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/cfr/world/slot2_20080528.html#:~:text=Roughly%2065%20percent%20of%20sub-Saharan%20Africa%E2%80%99s%20population%20relies,no%20irrigation%2C%20and%20no%20medication%20for%20her%20animals.

Farming Base. (2020, September 25). What percentage of americans are farmers. Retrieved February 24, 2021, from https://farmingbase.com/what-percentage-of-americans-are-farmers/#:~:text=Farmers%20make%20up%20about%201.3%25%20of%20the%20labor,at%20earlier%20years%2C%20however%2C%20the%20case%20is%20different.

Mechanised agriculture. (2021, February 18). Retrieved February 24, 2021, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mechanised_agriculture#:~:text=Mechanisation%20was%20one%20of%20the%20large%20factors%20responsible,sometimes%20can%20improve%20the%20quality%20of%20farm%20produce.

Sims, B., & Kienzle, J. (2006). Farm power and mechanization for small farms in sub-Saharan AfricaBrian G Sims. AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD ENGINEERING AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD ENGINEERING TECHNICAL REPORT TECHNICAL REPORT.

The Great Green Wall

Mon, 22 Feb 2021 02:52:00 GMT

Much of Africa, especially the Sahel region is on the frontline of climate change. In much of Saharan Africa, the phenomenon of “desertification” has been one of the widest reaching effects of climate change. Desertification is the process whereby fertile areas become increasingly arid, as the desert “reclaims” land that had been used as farmland for decades. In this sense, the Sahara is actually expanding, taking land away from farming communities that need them in order to feed themselves. This issue is especially critical as the population of the Sahel is expected to double by 2039.

However, back in the 1970’s, many African countries came together to recognize the problem and came up with a solution to try and stop the spread of the Saraha. Their solution was called the “Great Green Wall”.

The idea of the Great Green Wall was to create a 8,000 kilometer wall of green and productive landscapes stretching across the width of Africa. The wall was to stretch from Senegal in the West to Djibouti in the East. Drought resistant trees, such as the acacia were to be used, creating a stopping point for the Sahara. The project would bring revitalization and growth back to the Sahel, a region that struggles with persistent droughts, lack of food, and conflicts over natural resources. The concept began to gain additional traction throughout the 80’s, as the idea of transforming the region’s degraded landscapes caught on.

In 2007, under the leadership of the African Union, this idea finally began to take shape. The project originally started with 11 African countries signing on as part of the initiative, but now boasts 20 different countries contributing to this truly pan-African movement.

However, the Great Green Wall is not just a tool for fighting climate change, it has also been used to create jobs for thousands of Africans and reinvigorate traditional farming practices. One of the main goals of the Great Green Wall is to use indigenous land techniques to help with rehabilitation, rather than simply planting trees. There has been a revitalization of many native practices, and using these techniques will lead to more durability in the wall.

Through the initiative, there has also been a large push for green job creation as a part of the project. There has been a focus on using the Great Green Wall to reduce rural poverty in the region, by revitalizing the land and using it as a tool to help farmers. Additionally, the project makes it a priority to employ local Africans to help build the wall, ensuring that the jobs stay in the community. The project supports communities working towards sustainable management and use of forests, rangelands and other natural resources. It seeks to help communities mitigate and adapt to climate change, as well as improve food security. According to Greatgreenwall.org, “the initiative is already bringing life back to Africa’s degraded landscapes at an unprecedented scale, providing food security, jobs and a reason to stay for the millions who live along its path”. It is not just bringing land revitalization to the area, but also economic revitalization.

At current, the project is around 15% finished, with 3 million hectares of land being rehabilitated in Burkina Faso alone. The ultimate goal is to restore 100 million acres of land by 2030, creating 10 million green jobs and absorbing 250 million tons of CO2 from the atmosphere. Once complete, the Great Green Wall will be the largest living structure on the planet, 3 times the size of the Great Barrier Reef.

More than 20 African countries are planting a 8,000-km-long 'GREAT Green Wall'. (2019, April 25). Retrieved February 14, 2021, from https://www.zmescience.com/ecology/climate/great-green-wall-04232/

The great green wall. (n.d.). Retrieved February 14, 2021, from https://www.greatgreenwall.org/about-great-green-wall

Great green wall. (2021, January 25). Retrieved February 14, 2021, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Green_Wall

Impact of COVID19: A Case Study of Burkina Faso

Tue, 16 Feb 2021 14:49:00 GMT

While COVID19 has impacted the entire world, developing countries, such as Burkina Faso, face different and compounding issues. Treating COVID19 becomes harder when countries already grapple with issues such as food shortages, poverty, medical shortages and lack of infrastructure. Additionally, even with a vaccine, developing countries are usually last on the list to receive them, and can have trouble with distribution.

Burkina Faso, where Farm Sahel focuses their work, has been hit hard by the pandemic, especially as 2021 continues. According to Burkina Faso's Health Ministry, the country has registered more than 11,000 cases and 134 deaths since the pandemic began. While that might not seem like a lot compared to the 27 million that the US has seen, it is still high for a country where health care facilities have seen massive cuts in recent years. Currently, there is less than 1 physician per 10,000 people and 3.57 nurses per 10,000 people. This leaves hospitals unable to staff their wards properly, and healthcare workers throughout the country feel the strain caused by a lack of resources. Hospital workers told reporters from the AP last month that they are “understaffed and overworked”.

Many international organizations and reporters think that COVID19 numbers in Burkina Faso are being undercounted due to lack of testing. The country lacks any mass testing capabilities, and many who end up contracting the virus are never officially tested. Recently, the number of daily infections has been on the rise, from below 50 in early December to more than 100 by the start of 2021. This new rise in infections is being referred to as a “second wave” as the nation managed to avoid a large first wave. Many doctors working within the country are worried about this second wave. Hospitals are already struggling with the rise in cases, and there are worries that critical care beds will soon run out throughout the whole of the country.

Donald Brooks, a US aid worker who has been analysing the country’s response to the pandemic has said that: “If this second wave of COVID-19 cases continues to rise, the additional strain placed on Burkina’s health system, already weakened by the first wave and ongoing conflict, can likely increase disability and death from other causes such as malaria, malnutrition and other respiratory infections.”

Moreover, there are additional concerns about the ability to distribute vaccines within the country. The World Health Organization has promised to obtain and deliver over 100 million doses of the vaccine to low-income countries by March under the COVAX initiative. The initiative is a global effort aimed at getting lower-income countries vaccinated. If WHO is able to keep their promise, the country could receive over 1 million doses. However, medical professionals within the country are concerned about the nation’s ability to actually vaccinate people, due to the lack of trained medical staff. The vaccine rollout will most likely need to use resources that the country cannot afford to allocate with the pandemic still raging. Lastly, the 1 million vaccines promised by the WHO would vaccinate less than 1% of the country's 20 million residents, leaving them far below the bar for herd immunity. The country would need at least 30 million vaccinations in order to reach the approximate herd immunity threshold that the WHO prescribes.

As of right now, all local officials can do is ask residents to observe COVID 19 and public safety protocols, including wearing a mask when in public.

-Republic World. “Burkina Faso Registers Surge in COVID-19 Cases, Hospitals under Pressure.” Republic World, Republic World, 8 Feb. 2021, www.republicworld.com/world-news/africa/burkina-faso-registers-surge-in-covid-19-cases-hospitals-under-pressure.html.

-Mednick, Sam. “Burkina Faso Hospitals Struggle with New Wave of COVID-19.” SFGATE, Associated Press, 7 Feb. 2021, www.sfgate.com/news/article/Burkina-Faso-hospitals-worry-as-second-COVID-19-15931278.php.

-“Burkina Faso.” World Health Organization, World Health Organization, www.who.int/data/gho/data/countries/country-details/GHO/burkina-faso?countryProfileId=c573d359-ef44-43e0-9d20-4c17ab6d68e9+https%3A%2F%2Fwww.who.int%2Fworkforcealliance%2Fcountries%2Fbfa%2Fen%2F.

The Failures of Foreign Aid

Mon, 08 Feb 2021 00:12:00 GMT

Last year, the United States government gave $42,784,665,322 in foreign aid, including $61,050,000 to Burkina Faso. The main idea that has guided development theory through the last half-century is that aid and large donations can remedy poverty. While millions have moved out of poverty in the past 50 years, it has had less to do with international aid, and more to do with economic development taking place in countries that received very little aid, mainly in Asia.

In actuality, more than a quarter of countries in sub-saharan Africa are poorer now than they were in 1960, a sharp reversal of the idea that aid breeds economic improvement. This large pouring in of economic aid hasn’t been able to remedy the many ales that have plagued developing society for decades. So, why is this?

In general, it is because foreign aid infrastructures have changed very little over the past several decades, and have neglected to listen to developing countries, tending to instead think that they know best. A prime example of this is the $13.5 million United States funded project that was attempted in Burkina Faso last year. The US State department along with the United States Agency for International Development each spent nearly a year of staff time and resources, along with millions of dollars on a project that ultimately failed.

While representatives from both agencies have blamed COVID19 for the failure of the project, the real issues stem from the basic misunderstanding that many Western countries have regarding aid to developing nations. Firstly, the US government neglected to take the time to fully invest in Burkina Faso and familiarize themselves with the country before actually beginning their campaign. Investments occurred without much consultation from local leaders or a full understanding of the many factors that were in play at the time. Likewise, the agencies neglected to send agents into the field to gain a better understanding until they had already formulated their plan. Starting without a proper understanding of the situation quickly led the project to failure.

This lack of understanding then compounded with the fact that the developing situation in Burkina Faso simply was not improving as steadily as representatives from the United States were hoping. Instead, the situation within the country worsened during the duration of the intervention. Once the departments realized that they were bogged down in a much larger and longer project than they originally thought, funding began to slow and key players started to lose faith in the project itself. After the momentum started to slow, it was difficult to get the project up and running at the same pace that it had been at before.

One of the final nails in the coffin of this botched aid project was the US’s inability to alter their plan when circumstances on the ground changed. Peter Quaranto, director, CSO’s Office of African Affairs said that: “One of the takeaways from this process is the importance of adapting when something isn't working.” Since the United States was unable to change their approach, they were quickly pouring funding and resources into an avenue that no longer had any chance of working.

Almost a year after the multi-million dollar Burkina Faso project was started, members of USAID pulled the plug on it. Members of the agency cited a need to “reevaluate their plan” for future operations within the country. However, this case study shows that simply throwing money and personnel at a problem is not going to solve it. Western nations need to understand the nuances of development, and the problems that many developing countries face. Additionally, they must ensure that they listen to local leaders, and are able to adapt as situations within these countries change.

Sources:

-Welsh, Teresa. “How a $13.5M US Project Imploded in Burkina Faso.” Devex. Devex, January 21, 2021. https://www.devex.com/news/how-a-13-5m-us-project-imploded-in-burkina-faso-98927.

-Acemoglu, Daron. “Why Foreign Aid Fails - and How to Really Help Africa.” The Spectator. Accessed February 5, 2021. https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/why-foreign-aid-fails---and-how-to-really-help-africa.

- , https://foreignassistance.gov/explore

-Consolidation. Accessed February 5, 2021. https://foreignassistance.gov/explore.

Education Inequality in Sub-Saharan Africa

Tue, 19 Jan 2021 16:24:00 GMT

“Poverty lies at the heart of many of the challenges that hinder girls’ access to education. The pressures of poverty mean that parents must constantly make decisions about how to utilize extremely limited resources and how best to provide a secure future for their family,” Plan International recently reported. As the populace of Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) faces poverty, hunger and extreme climates, the women and girls of SSA are faced with gender inequality on top of that. There have been several futile attempts to enroll more young girls and women into school over the years, but none of these attempts have seemed to stick. “More than 49 million girls are out of primary and secondary school in Sub-Saharan Africa, with 31 million of them out of secondary education, undermining their rights and limiting their opportunities” (Human Rights Watch). This article will explore why boys and men are more likely to finish their education, and possible solutions to get more girls and women through the entire schooling system.

“There is no doubt that a concerted global push for universal education has narrowed the gender gap in primary school enrollment between 2001 and 2008, says UNESCO, the UN agency on education and culture. Over the past seven years, however, the gap appears to have remained the same, according to the report” (un.org). This article, written in 2015, establishes that there had been a slight push to narrow gender inequality concerning education, but that push seems to have stalled after 2008. There are several reasons why girls are unlikely to go to school or finish school. All educational reports and statistics seem to point to a few key factors: forced early marriages, poverty, and child labor. Of course, persistent cultural attitudes towards gender roles also play a huge part in this. “In [SSA], 40 percent of girls marry before age 18, and African countries account for 15 of the 20 countries with the highest rates of child marriage globally. The region also has the world’s highest prevalence of adolescent pregnancies. In 14 [SSA] countries, between 30 and 51 percent of girls give birth before they are 18” (Human Rights Watch). As per cultural attitudes regarding gender roles, once women become pregnant they are expected to marry; once women are married, they are expected to maintain their households. Several SSA countries also have discriminating policies towards pregnant students; In Tanzania… school officials conduct pregnancy tests and expel pregnant students (Human Rights Watch). It is very unlikely that these young women will be taught anything about sex education- and that is if they even attend school. What could possibly be the solution to combat these seemingly never-ending cycles of gender inequality?

To break these cycles of gender inequality, it is essential that SSA governments recognize these issues- it is necessary to devise sturdy policies that enforce education. “UNESCO and UNICEF are recommending that countries focus on ‘broad investment to strengthen and expand education systems, a sharp focus on improving the quality of education, and targeted interventions for the children who are very hard to reach” (un.org). Fortunately, there has already been some progress in this area- all African governments have made a commitment to guarantee gender equality and accessible education for all children by 2030 to the UN. Furthermore, The African Union has recognized the importance of ending child marriage, understanding that it is a major impediment to regional development and prosperity, and of eliminating all forms of gender-based violence and discrimination (Human Rights Watch). To educate these young girls and women would be the ideal way to teach them of future opportunities and success- but getting them to school is the first test. Not only getting them to school but getting them to school in safe and responsible ways. It is up to the SSA governments to guarantee their young girls’ equality and freedom. This includes reversing any harmful policies that stigmatize girls, such as expulsion of pregnant students. The education of the youth, and especially girls, is essential now more than ever as the population boom signifies that over half the population by 2050 will be younger than 25- these young girls are quite literally the future of Sub-Saharan Africa.

Works Cited

Kuwonu, Franck. “Millions of Girls Remain out of School .” United Nations , United Nations, Apr. 2015, www.un.org/africarenewal/magazine/april-2015/millions-girls-remain-out-school.

Tibasima, Marco. “Africa: Make Girls' Access to Education a Reality.” Human Rights Watch , 16 June 2017, www.hrw.org/news/2017/06/16/africa-make-girls-access-education-reality.

Agri-Tech: The Future of Sub-Saharan Africa

Sun, 27 Dec 2020 15:26:00 GMT

Despite such a dependence on the agricultural sector in Sub-Saharan Africa, the industry faces numerous issues that lead to low productivity. “The ability of African farmers to increase productivity is critical in order to provide food and economic growth to support its growing population” (Wentworth). The growth and success of the agricultural industry is vital to improving overall economic growth and quelling the impending worries of overpopulation, poverty, and hunger. Fortunately, there have been quite a few endeavors already that inspire hope within Sub-Saharan Africa.

“The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) predicts that the agricultural market in Sub-Saharan Africa alone will grow from $200 billion in 2015 to $1 trillion by 2030. This equates to a fivefold growth. Entrepreneurs in Africa are increasingly seeing opportunities in the agricultural sector and are developing solutions that enable farmers to increase their yields and access markets. Globally, agricultural tech start-ups raised $800 million in the last 5 years” (Wentworth). The agricultural sector is also proving fruitful for hopeful entrepreneurs and international investors. It is reported that agri-tech start-ups received over $13 million in US funding in 2017- the fourth largest of any sector. Incredibly, international funding in 2015 was a mere $50,000; with every year that passes, investments are skyrocketing. These investments are a testament to the agri-tech industry in Sub-Saharan Africa and its untapped potential.

The agri-tech market is innovating itself further every year. Examples of technological advancements that ease prices for farmers include cloud computing, open-source software and digital tools. These methods of digital agriculture will provide new opportunities to improve productivity levels and sustainability(Stern). When it comes to the actual management of crops and yield output, technology has also proved to be very useful. “Technological developments such as aerial imagery from drones or satellites, weather forecasts and soil sensors are making it easier for farmers to manage their crops in real time” (Wentworth). These developments allow farmers to take preventative measures to aid their crop output, contributing to much higher productivity.

A spotlight agri-tech company is Twiga Foods, based in Kenya, which received a majority of the $13 million US funding in 2017. Twiga Foods acts as an intermediary between farmers and vendors- farmers post their produce, and vendors can reach out to have them delivered through a formal market. According to their website, “Twiga has been bridging gaps in food and market security through an organized platform for an efficient, fair, transparent and formal marketplace.” This is a completely mobile-based app, and it is estimated that over 13,000 farmers and 6,000 vendors utilize this app. The CEO of Twiga Foods, Grant Brooke, reaffirmed that Twiga was able to see such success due to the thriving nature of the agricultural sector: “Agriculture is one of the largest, and most untapped by technology, sectors of the economy. I think investors are targeting agriculture because it’s a huge market that touches just about everyone” (Wentworth).

As the population continues to boom, and is expected to double by 2050, innovators are searching for new ways to sustain the people and economy. Fortunately, the agri-tech industry has proven to be very beneficial. Numerous start-ups have taken off and include many modern methods that ultimately ease the farmer’s workload. Twiga Foods is just one success story- there is room for many more to thrive in Africa, where the agricultural sector has remained virtually untapped by new or existing technological advancements. Even though growth in Africa has seen recent decline, there is absolutely potential to bounce back as one of the strongest contenders of the global agricultural and technological marketplaces.

Works Cited

Chakravorti, Bhaskar, and Ravi Shankar Chaturvedi. “Research: How Technology Could Promote Growth in 6 African Countries.” Harvard Business Review , 21 Oct. 2020, hbr.org/2019/12/research-how-technology-could-promote-growth-in-6-african-countries.

Stern, Mike. “The (Re)Evolution Is Real: Digital Tools Will Transform Farming.” PrecisionAg , 1 Feb. 2019, www.precisionag.com/digital-farming/the-reevolution-is-real-digital-tools-will-transform-farming/.

Wentworth, Adam. “New Technology Is Transforming Africa's Agricultural Industry.” Climate Action , 23 Mar. 2018, www.climateaction.org/news/new-technology-is-transforming-africas-agricultural-industry.

Country Case Studies: Senegal

Sun, 22 Nov 2020 19:18:00 GMT

Senegal is located on the west coast of Africa, covering an area of about 197,000 square kilometers. The estimated population is 15 million people, and 52% of the total labour force is employed by the agricultural sector. Agriculture is a crucial part of the nation’s GDP. However, Senegal must see changes in agricultural development to save its economy, as the agricultural sector shows signs of future decline. Senegal’s main crops are ground nuts and rice; despite a dominant commodity being rice, Senegal imports about 70% of its rice for domestic consumption (Syngenta). Senegal relies heavily upon its groundnut production- it takes up 42% of cultivated lands and provides income for a major portion of the population. However, the peanut market is inconsistent and is seeing a steady decline in demand globally. Lastly, Senegal’s climate- semi-arid with declining rainfall- is a threat to its agricultural sector. This article will explore all of these threats, and possible solutions.

Senegal is particularly susceptible to destructive natural forces, and suffers from an oscillating climate. Declining rainfall has become a severe obstacle for the production of crops, and in Senegal the rainfall can vary drastically year to year. Furthermore, only 12% of the land is arable, due to Senegal’s rapid desertification. “Desertification and land degradation are among the main causes of low productivity in Senegal. Extreme weather conditions related to climate change make matters worse, affecting food security, livelihoods and job opportunities” (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations). The United Nations suggests that there are ways to combat this problem, especially sustainable land management. Sustainable land management would restore degraded land, allowing the agricultural community to make use of it once more. The government must make this a priority, and train and employ people in sustainable forest management. Until this is made a priority, the nation’s crops will suffer due to these destructive natural and manmade forces.

The most significant crop in Senegal is the peanut; as mentioned before, ground nuts take up 42% of cultivated lands and provide income for a major portion of the population. Unfortunately, it is a very inconsistent and unstable crop due to output depending on rainfall. “The prices of agricultural commodities in the international market are similarly dependent upon natural forces. If there were to be heavy rainfall in all peanut-producing countries, the international supply of peanuts would be high, leading to a decrease in the international price for peanut supply. Since it is impossible to predict the situation in any given year, fluctuating prices are a constant threat and source of insecurity for agricultural nations like Senegal” (Nations Encyclopedia). Possible solutions to this problem have been proposed by Richard Dick, a professor at Ohio State University. Dick researched shrubs native to the Sahel area that thrived in arid conditions- the Guitar senegalensis and Piliostigma reticulatum- to see if they could potentially aid the crops around them. “These plants create a natural irrigation system, sucking water from deep below the surface to irrigate neighboring crops, and at the same time, increase organic matter in farmers’ fields” (Floyd). However, there needs to be much more research and experiments to confirm that these shrubs actually help; the maintenance of these shrubs would not be worthwhile otherwise.

Reducing dependence on peanuts could ensure the agricultural community’s income is not based upon the amount of rainfall per year. The Senegalese government has indeed made efforts to focus on another crop, rice. Unfortunately, this has become an issue within itself. “Virtually no other country in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is so food-import-dependent, especially on one specific product: rice. After Nigeria- a much larger country- Senegal is the second largest rice importer in SSA, ranking tenth in the world” (Bruntrup, 2016). However, rice is just as largely consumed as it is produced- hence why Senegal is forced to import about 70% of its rice for domestic consumption. Local agriculture cannot satisfy the consumption patterns of rice, while foreign producers are able to meet this demand at a much lower rate. The only solution to the dilemma is to introduce moderate agricultural import protection measures, which must be accompanied by substantial support to improve agricultural productivity and promote a range of diversification options in rural regions (Bruntrup, 2016). There must also be an adequate supply of loans, agricultural inputs and legal stability for the producers from the government and private sectors.

The Senegalese government must be responsible for taking measures to combat its mass poverty and malnutrition. To begin with, the Senegalese government must provide adequate funding and measures to uplift local rice producers. Thorough investigation into the peanut market must be funded in order to find other reliable ways to grow peanuts, considering the unpredictability of rainfall on production. Lastly, there must be widespread attempts to combat desertification and land degradation through sustainable land management. All of these solutions require the government to provide the necessary funding and training, as well as policy and agricultural reform implementation. Research and evaluation has shown that potential solutions exist; now, the nation must take a step forward to save its economy and its people.

Works Cited

Bruntrup, Michael, et al. “The Rice Market in Senegal.” Rural21 , 2006, www.rural21.com/fileadmin/_migrated/content_uploads/ELR_The_rice_market_in_Senegal_0106.

Floyd, Allison. “Wild Shrub Could Help Peanut Farmers in Senegal.” Agrilinks , 13 Feb. 2020, www.agrilinks.org/post/wild-shrub-could-help-peanut-farmers-senegal.

“Senegal.” Syngenta , 13 May 2019, www.syngentafoundation.org/agriservices/wherewework/senegal.

“Senegal Action Against Desertification.” Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations , www.fao.org/in-action/action-against-desertification/countries/africa/senegal/en/.

“Senegal - Agriculture.” Encyclopedia of the Nations , www.nationsencyclopedia.com/economies/Africa/Senegal-AGRICULTURE.html.

Country Case Studies: Nigeria

Tue, 17 Nov 2020 04:01:00 GMT

The prosperity of Nigeria is instrumental to the overall success of Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), as it is one of the largest countries in the region with the highest population- about 200 million. This article will examine the prosperity of Nigeria, particularly the agricultural sector’s reform. The agricultural sector is crucial to the overall success of Nigeria, as “Nigeria is an agrarian country with about 70% of over 140 million people engaged in agricultural production and provides subsistence for two-thirds of Nigerians who are low income earners” (Ugwu, Kanu). The production of crops in Nigeria is substantial, as cereal crops are grown as well as other major crops such as cassava, plantain and maize. Nigerian farmers can successfully grow such a wide variety of crops due to Nigeria’s abundant natural resources as well as a favorable climate and adequate rainfall. Despite all of Nigeria’s positive traits, crop yield output is nowhere near its maximum potential. The National Bureau of Statistics recently reported in its “2019 Poverty and Inequality in Nigeria” report that a massive 40% of the country’s population lives below the poverty line. Much of this poverty is a direct reflection of the failing agricultural practices in the nation. Major changes in the agricultural industry are essential to the growth of Nigeria and its economy.

The decline of the agricultural sector possible

In a country that is so dependent upon its agricultural community, how was the decline of the agricultural sector possible? Nigeria has an abundance of natural resources, as well as an excellent climate for growing crops. “…there has been declining contributions of agriculture to the gross domestic product in the past three decades. This could be associated with the gross neglect of the agricultural sector and over dependence on the oil sector” (Ugwu, Kanu). In 1972, the oil sector contributed to 99.7% of the GDP- and in the post oil boom era, when the prices of crude oil began to fall, this became a pressing concern.

Programs to combat the declining agricultural sector

The Nigerian government issued a series of programs to combat the declining agricultural sector- examples include the NAFPP, ADPs, NCAM, the Green Revolution Programme and Specialised Universities for Agriculture. Despite all of these reforms, the performance of the agricultural sector did not fare significantly better. The series of policies and reforms the nation underwent were ineffective, inconsistent and at times exploitative- for example, heavy taxing of smallholder farmers on export crops. There were so many different policies implemented under different regimes that all of them ceased to be effective. Even with recent attempts to improve the failing agriculture system in Nigeria, there are many obstacles to overcome. Although agriculture contributed to 42% of the GDP in 2008, a significant growth, food security remains a major concern. The agricultural economy has undoubtedly been moving forward, but past policy instability and poor coordination by the Nigerian government have left many pieces to be picked up.

Nigeria has the potential to surpass the growth of other SSA nations due to its abundant resources, great climate, and massive population. However, the agricultural sector has seen a decline over the past few decades due to the government employing unsatisfactory or inconsistent reforms. Policies must be consistent and transparent to truly be effective. Further, any corrupt or exploitative measures must be ceased immediately- such as unnecessary taxing. Nigeria has the potential to be a superpower in the agricultural sector- with good governance, this should be a realistic future for the nation.

Works Cited

Kanu and Ugwu, “Effects of Agricultural Reforms on the Agricultural Sector in Nigeria.” Journal of African Studies and Development, 2011.

“Nigeria Releases New Report on Poverty and Inequality in Country.” World Bank , 2019, www.worldbank.org/en/programs/lsms/brief/nigeria-releases-new-report-on-poverty-and-inequality-in-country.

Country Case Studies: Burkina Faso

Tue, 10 Nov 2020 03:43:00 GMT

FarmSahel’s current projects are centered around Burkina Faso, a landlocked country in Sub-Saharan Africa with a population of about 19 million people. The agricultural sector is essential to the population, as well as the economy, contributing to 35% of the GDP, and employing 82% of the working population. However, Burkina Faso, “suffers from low-productivity due to several unfavorable factors: climatic hazards, declining soil fertility, weak infrastructure- especially roads- lack of organization of sectors, low investment and insufficient training of human resources”. As the nation’s population continues to boom, alongside the rest of Sub-Saharan Africa, it is necessary to ensure food and nutrition security in the coming years. Fortunately, recent technological advancements may be able to improve the agricultural industry.

Burkina Faso’s agriculture

Burkina Faso’s agricultural production is dominated by cereal crops. They constitute the majority of farming and diet of the population. The production and sales of cereal have dramatically increased over the past 50 years. However, the yield of the six major cereal crops are always less than 50% of the global yield. This is an issue because most of the productivity of cereal production in Africa has the potential to be much higher. “The global crop yield variability is largely determined by fertilizer application, irrigation and climate. Nutrient limitations are the major yield limiting factor of maize productivity in West Africa”. This means that there is a lack of sufficient nutrients in the soil, such as nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. There are innovations in agricultural technology, however, that could be helpful. For example, applying increased nitrogen rates to crops has been proven to improve growth and yield.

Agricultural Technology

As Burkina Faso must establish a way to ensure food and nutrition security, there are advancements being made in agricultural technology that can assist in the growth and yield of crop production. This is so important to Burkina Faso as a majority of its population relies on the agricultural sector, yet there are too many blockages that lead to low productivity. Fortunately, the application of increased nitrogen rates has been tried, tested and proven to be beneficial to crop yield and production. Burkina Faso should be able to take advantage of this technological innovation to boost crop production and, more importantly, help provide food security for its people.

It is also important to note that although cereal crops are crucial to the agricultural sector in Burkina Faso, the industry should not be entirely reliant on one crop. FarmSahel aims to introduce organic soybean production to women farmers in Burkina Faso, which would be one more step toward sustainable agricultural development in the nation.

Works Cited

Eyshi Rezaei, Ehsan and Gaiser, Thomas, Yield Effects of Selected Agronomic Innovation Packages in Maize Cropping Systems of Six Countries in Sub-Saharan Africa (May 18, 2018). ZEF-Discussion Papers on Development Policy No. 257, 2018

Fall, Fofona and Traore, Modelling the Economy-Wide Impact of Technological Innovation and Mapping Agricultural Potential: The case of Burkina Faso. ZEF- Center for Development Research, University of Bonn, December 2019

Country Case Studies: Ghana

Tue, 03 Nov 2020 04:26:00 GMT

As Sub-Saharan Africa struggles to catch up with the rest of the developing world- especially in comparison with developing Asian countries, there is one country to look to for inspiration: Ghana. Ghana holds a story of recent success in Africa and is one of the fastest growing economies in the world! “Of the 10 fastest-growing economies in the world in 2018, six were in Africa- with Ghana at the top of the world ranking” (brookings.edu). To comprehend the successful growth in Ghana is to give instruction to other struggling nations in Sub-Saharan Africa that see extreme poverty and hunger. “Ghana was generally at the forefront of poverty reduction in Africa since the 1990s: between 1991 and 2012, the headcount poverty rate was reduced by about 34 percentage points” (World Bank Group). Thus, it is crucial to study Ghana’s success and apply it to other developing nations. Although there are many factors to account for, this article will focus on the agricultural revolution in Ghana.

Agricultural revolution in Ghana

“Agriculture is the backbone of Ghana’s economy, and plays a key role in the country’s future development… There is no doubt about agriculture’s contribution to Ghana’s development and its effect on reducing poverty” (Kosmos). This agricultural revolution came about through quiet and steady advances made in technology and innovation. “According to the Overseas Development Institute (ODI), Ghana’s agricultural sector has grown by an average of about 5% per year during the past 25 years, making it one of the world’s top performers in agricultural growth” (canwefeedtheworld). How has this sector, which has proved difficult to reform in other African nations, thrived in Ghana? There are a few driving forces behind this: sound governance, fiscal investments and an enabling environment.

Reforms and Advancements

The Ghanaian government has proven to be one of the most competent in reforms and advancements. The President of Ghana from 2001 to 2009, John Agyekum Kufuor, was given the title of a World Food Prize Laureate in 2011 for his strong leadership skills and commitment to tackling hunger and developing infrastructure. “In an essay for IFPRI, he described his administration’s rural development plan which combined the education of farmers, investment in agricultural research, and economic incentives to farmers to boost yields. Between 2002 and 2005 cocoa produced in Ghana doubled… an all-time record in more than a century of cocoa farming in the country. Kufuor said his government also invested in infrastructure…” (canwefeedtheworld). The Ghanaian government did not only rapidly reform the farming sector; there were many other changes that go hand in hand with agricultural improvements. Most of the fiscal development in Ghana was due to changed policies by the government, such as the control of government consumption to GDP. Oil production and trade policies are a few positive contributions the government made to increase foreign exports and imports. Helpful intervention from Ghana’s government has indeed been instrumental to the growth of its nation.

Natural resources

It is important to give credit to Ghana’s ‘enabling’ environment, or its abundance in natural resources. A few booms in the economic growth of Ghana were due to main commodity prices increasing- gold, cocoa and commercial oil production (World Bank Group). Cocoa, one of Ghana’s main commodities in the agricultural sector, is a key factor in growth. “Economic reforms beginning in 1983…. transformed the cocoa marketing board allowing for greater competition in the sector. The resulting cocoa boom that saw smallholders benefit from increasing cocoa prices, stimulated growth in the rural economy as a whole” (canwefeedtheworld). Under the guidance of President Kufuor, cocoa production saw double in output yield between 2002 and 2005- transformative years for the economy. This represents the importance of natural resources towards a nation’s economic and overall success.

Economic growth

Government intervention and an abundant environment have made a great impact towards the economic growth of Ghana. Fortunately, Sub-Saharan Africa is full to the brim with natural resources. Proper usage of resources, combined with a committed government and improved infrastructure, can make substantial impacts on an economy. Other nations in Sub-Saharan Africa can follow in the steps of Ghana by focusing on government policies, structural growth, fiscal investments and agricultural growth. The improved agricultural sector, in particular, has changed the path of Ghana- and will also do so to other African countries. Once a country inflicted with poverty and hunger, currently the fastest growing economy in the world- Ghana is an inspirational story of success.

Works Cited

“An Agricultural Revolution for Ghana through innovation and technology.” Kosmos Innovation Center , 27 November 2017, “Ghana’s Sustained Agricultural Revolution/” CanWeFeedTheWorld , 28 September 2012,

https://www.kosmosinnovationcenter.com/678/

Geiger, Michael, et al. “Understanding Economic Growth in Ghana in Comparative Perspective.” World Bank Group , Jan. 2019, openknowledge.worldbank.org/bitstream/handle/10986/31166/WPS8699.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y.

“Ghana’s Sustained Agricultural Revolution.” CanWeFeedTheWorld , 28 September 2012, https://canwefeedtheworld.wordpress.com/2012/09/28/ghanas-sustained-agricultural-revolution/

Leke, Acha, and Landry Signé. “Spotlighting Opportunities for Business in Africa and Strategies to Succeed in the World's next Big Growth Market.” Brookings , Brookings, 11 Jan. 2019, www.brookings.edu/research/spotlighting-opportunities-for-business-in

Omondi, Gregory. “The State of Mobile in Ghana's Tech Ecosystem.” Mobile for Development , 11 Feb. 2020, www.gsma.com/mobilefordevelopment/blog/the-state-of-mobile-in-ghanas-tech-ecosystem/.

Africa’s Growth Spurt

Sun, 18 Oct 2020 22:50:00 GMT

Africa is often underestimated when it comes to its market growth and economies. Although there is a long way to go before Africa is completely self-sufficient and caught up to major foreign players, Africa has been quickly industrializing alongside a rapidly growing population. The market growth is due to an improving business environment, improved infrastructure, increasing digital access, and innovation in several economic and market sectors. This article will explore how Africa is a treasure chest of market opportunities and investments.

It is essential to take a look at Africa’s current market conditions- and they look very promising. “Of the 10 fastest-growing economies in the world in 2018, six were in Africa- with Ghana at the top of the world ranking. Secondly, in the World Bank’s 2019 Doing Business index, five of the 10 most improved countries are in Africa, and one-third of all reforms recorded globally were in sub-Saharan Africa” (brookings.edu). Clearly, Africa is a great place to invest in up and coming businesses. This article also states that there are about 400 unicorn companies- meaning worth more than $1 billion- and are actually growing faster than global peers. There are many reasons for this, but mostly the idea that there are untapped markets in Africa that are becoming more and more profitable with a developing and urbanizing population.

This is the era of a new African Industrial Revolution- from lucrative start-ups to greatly improved infrastructure. “Poor infrastructure is one of the key impediments to investment and growth in Africa. For example, nearly 600 million Africans lack access to the electricity grid” (brookings.edu). Poor infrastructure has undoubtedly been a large reason why Africa lagged behind in world economies- a huge percentage of Africans did not even have access to basic needs. Fortunately, Africa’s annual investments into infrastructure have been doubling almost every year. These investments leave many market opportunities to help solve existing infrastructure challenges.

As FarmSahel has repeatedly emphasized, there is also major room for innovation within agricultural sectors. The abundance of natural resources within Africa almost guarantees a projection for agricultural development. Africa has struggled to translate this abundance into economic development. However, with aforementioned investments and a future demand for energy, this must change with changing times. “We estimate that the domestic gas market in Africa will grow by 9 percent a year to 2025, by which time the continent could use up to 70 percent of its own gas” (brookings.edu).

This unmet demand for energy will also make room for unhinged growth in other market sectors- specifically, the increase of digital and mobile access. For example, there has been a spurt in mobile money accounts- Africa actually accounts for a large portion of the global total. “This trend will allow companies to improve productivity, speed up transactions, and access wider markets, and could add $300 billion to the continent’s GDP by 2025” (brookings.edu). One unicorn company has profited off of this unusual market opportunity- Paga; Paga processes $2 billion a year in payments (brookings.edu). Needless to say, there are endless opportunities for start-ups and markets in a developing Africa- as people begin to take advantage of these opportunities, the market can only grow more from there.

Other governments see these opportunities too, and that is helpful to the overall growth of the continent. Written on the USAID website, for example, is “the security and prosperity of the United States are linked with Africa’s like never before… Prosper Africa is a U.S. Government initiative to substantially increase two-way trade and investment between the United States and Africa.”

The question to be asked, then, is what have African governments been doing in response to this growth? There have been five recurring policies that African countries have implemented- “removal of barriers to private sector involvement (e.g. licensing; movement controls on inputs and outputs), deregulation of consumer and producer prices, elimination of taxes and subsidies (implicit and explicit), privatization of state marketing or processing enterprises, abolition of official monopolies (and agents of the state) and the opening of trade to competition” (fao.org). These policies have completely changed the path of certain African nations- in particular, Ghana, which was previously mentioned as the fastest-growing economy in the world. Africa, however, is a massive continent with diverse populations and 54 nations. If all 54 nations were to implement such policies, it would be a remarkable feat for the overall economy of the continent. Of course, the agricultural sector in particular must see the most growth for improvement of the economy; for reference, look at FarmSahel’s articles on agricultural economies and development. These particular policies have been instrumental to the growth of the economy, and there should be initiatives taken to implement these policies all over the continent.

Contrary to widespread beliefs, Africa’s growth has been generally productive. Market opportunities are becoming more and more fruitful in response to improved infrastructure, increased digital and mobile access, lucrative start-ups and the utilization of the vast supply of natural resources. Ghana is the fastest growing economy in the world, and five other African nations are in the top ten. If this does not indicate that Africa’s market opportunities and economy are on a positive slope, perhaps the 400 companies valued in the billions are. There has been an interest to heavily invest by foreign nations, such as the Prosper Africa act by the United States government. Lastly, the policies that many African nations have been implementing are finally reaping benefits- this will undoubtedly inspire other African countries to follow suit. Africa’s growth spurt has only just begun- and it is the fastest growing one in the world!

Works Cited

“Trade and Investment: Africa.” U.S. Agency for International Development , 27 May 2020, www.usaid.gov/africa/trade-and-investment.

“Trade Reforms and Food Security.” Chapter 12. Trade and Economic Reforms in Africa[192] , 2003, www.fao.org/3/y4671e/y4671e0i.htm.

The Road to Financial Freedom in Africa

Sun, 11 Oct 2020 23:32:00 GMT

Africa is on the road to becoming a self-sufficient continent through breakthroughs in technology and agriculture. However, any potential obstacles must be analyzed and broken down before African economies suffer any more. From an economic standpoint, there are two major factors that can seriously detriment the financial stability of African nations; import and export tariffs, as well as government intervention. If there are high tariffs on goods produced in already suffering African nations, very much dependent upon foreign expenditure, the economy will undoubtedly become unstable. A lack of government intervention and subsidies can be detrimental to the agricultural communities, which comprise a major portion of African populations. These two pivotal matters- foreign expenditure and government intervention- have the ability to either make or break economies.

Foreign expenditure is crucial to African nations; much of the industries within Africa are rooted in the manufacturing of goods, which are thereafter sold to international companies. In this article, there will be a close focus on the EU: “the largest export and import partner for Africa is the EU- 27 with 31% of exports and 29% of imports” (ec.europa.eu). The EU can be looked at as a source of inspiration for developing countries, as most African countries are actually not required to pay quotes or duties for access to the EU markets. These policies were put into place by the EBA and EPA programs. EPA- Economic Partnership Agreements- were put into place to aid developing countries in Africa, establishing a long-term, stable, and free access to EU markets. The EBA- Everything-But-Arms- “is a one-way EU measure to support trade-driven development of least developed countries” (trade.ec.europa.eu). As the name implies, the EBA allows free exports on all goods except for any arms (weapons). Thus, the issue of import and export tariffs do not seem to be a current problem faced by most African nations. Other countries, such as the United States, have also put into effect policies such as the EBA and EPA. Fortunately, developed nations have taken the proper steps needed to allow Africa to flourish on its own and one day become a major competitor in the international markets.

To become a major competitor in the international markets, African nations must scrutinize the issues back at home. Of the 1.33 billion population, 61% of Sub-Saharan Africans are involved in agriculture directly or indirectly. That being said, farmers invariably control the local economies; if farmers are struggling, the local economies will also struggle. There is a heavy burden placed upon farmers during sowing season, when they already face many losses due to diseases, pests and water shortages. First and foremost, governments can control prices of inflated agricultural goods, such as seeds, fertilizers and insecticides. Governments should make available farmers’ subsidies, which will give farmers more financial security in case of unprecedented losses. “Agricultural input use in SSA is very low by international standards, and the hope is that subsidies may induce farmers to adopt the use of inputs and thereby increase agricultural productivity” (oecd.org). The article, “Agricultural Input Subsidies in Sub-Saharan Africa,” explores the success of agricultural inputs and government interventions that were put into effect in a select amount of African countries. It is necessary to note that agricultural inputs include farming equipment, seeds, fertilizers and other agricultural goods. Three Sub-Saharan nations, Ghana, Zambia and Malawi, saw a notable increase in their output crop yield through government subsidies- however, they did come at a very high cost for governments. The article concluded it would be too difficult to judge if input subsidy programs were a smart investment with the present information. The most viable suggestion to make government subsidies sustainable was voucher programs, allowing private sectors to take a major part in the distribution of subsidies- thus, the financial burden would not be solely upon government budgets.

As aforementioned, Africa’s financial stability and economic sustainability will depend largely upon the successes of foreign expenditure and government intervention. Fortunately, developed areas of the world- such as the EU and the United States- have taken proper measures to ensure that Africa will one day become an enduring competitor in international markets. Although financial freedom will likely not happen overnight, the reduction and elimination of tariffs and quotas have eased the burden upon foreign expenditure and allowed space for growth. Of course, there are other facets of foreign expenditure that Africa must look into- such as the eradication of international monopolies. Government intervention has proven to be a trickier subject, but each nation should strive to have specialized policies to help its farmers through further studies and experiments. As proven, government subsidies did greatly increase crop yield output; with cost effective methods, local economies would greatly benefit from subsidies and intervention. Foreign expenditure and government intervention are essential to the growth and sustainability of African economies- with the continued efforts and innovative methods, Africa will surely cross the finish line to financial stability.

Works Cited

“Africa-EU - International Trade in Goods Statistics.” Eurostats ,ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php/Africa-EU_-_international_trade_in_goods_statistics.

Baltzer, Kenneth, and Henrik Hansen. “Agricultural Input Subsidies in Sub-Saharan Africa.” Danida , 2012, www.oecd.org/derec/49231998.pdf.

“EU Trade Policy and Africa's Exports.” European Commission , trade.ec.europa.eu/doclib/docs/2017/november/tradoc_156399.pdf.

An Inspiration for Sub-Saharan Nations

Thu, 01 Oct 2020 03:21:00 GMT

Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is one of the world’s regions that suffer the most from poverty, hunger and agricultural decline. Despite the massive population of SSA, and the majority of this population being involved in the agricultural community, there have been critical issues revolving around the farming systems and, subsequently, the economy. As SSA approaches a boom in population, one that is expected to double the younger generation, serious action is required to sustain the agricultural development of each nation.

Agricultural development is essential to the wellbeing of SSA nations, not only because a major portion of its residents are involved in the community, but it can also alleviate the hunger that will certainly increase from population booms. The burning question is: how exactly can one help the agricultural economies of SSA? There are solutions that have worked in other nations such as government intervention, foreign independence and strict quarantine laws. However, SSA nations come with obstacles of their own- and to really delve into feasible solutions, there is one nation in particular that has been able to overcome difficulties in its agricultural sector. That nation exists within SSA and has been one of the first to break free from the chains of agricultural destitution: Ethiopia.

Ethiopia's Economic Situation

Ethiopia is a nation that is towards the Eastern border of SSA with a population over 100 million. Ethiopia’s economic situation has improved in the last decade, driven by agricultural sector reforms. “Ethiopia is one of the top performing economies in Sub-Saharan Africa. This country has been able to register an average growth rate of 11 percent over the last seven years. Agriculture is the mainstay of the economy; and exports are almost entirely reliant on agricultural commodities” (fao.org). These agricultural commodities include coffee, oil seeds, dried pulses, hide and skin as well as live animals. The agricultural community is central to the economy of Ethiopia, as is the case in most of Sub-Saharan Africa- the smallholder farming households actually account for 85% of all employment. Thus, it is evident that the many steps Ethiopia took to change its agricultural sector lended a hand in fixing the economy.

The Ethiopian government created a series of programs and policies to advance agricultural development.

The success comes from Ethiopia’s famed Growth and Transformation Plan, which ensured that there would be rapid and sustainable growth through enhancing the agricultural and manufacturing sectors. This was ensured through the creation of several “pillar strategies”, focused upon seven key categories: sustainable economic growth, the maintenance of agricultural as a source of this growth, the creation of favorable conditions for the industry to play a key role in enhancing both infrastructure and social development, deepening governing tactics, and promoting women empowerment. Focusing on the maintenance of agriculture as a source of economic growth, was one of the main facets of this Growth and Transformation Plan that led to growing success for Ethiopia. “The agricultural strategy will direct on placing major effort to support the intensification of marketable farm products- both for domestic and export markets, and by small and large farmers. Fundamentals of the strategy include the shift to produce high value crops, a special focus on high-potential areas, facilitating the commercialization of agriculture, supporting the development of large-scale commercial agriculture where it is feasible.

The commercialization of smallholder farming will continue to be the major source of agricultural growth” (Growth and Transformation Plan). Of course, all of these changes were made available to the agricultural community by largely increasing private and public investments into these sectors, including infrastructure of establishments. This intense focus on the agricultural sector also addressed the challenges of food security for the nation. Lastly, Ethiopia expanded irrigation to promote different methods of cropping as well as climate variability. Through several models of expansion for Ethiopia, the nation was able to maintain an average growth rate of 11% for the last seven years. A Growth and Transformation Plan II has recently gone into effect, due to the successes of the first phase.

Still Searching For Solutions

Unfortunately, the Growth and Transformation Plan was not the ultimate cure to Ethiopia’s lasting struggles as the result of once being one of the poorest nations in the world. “The government of Ethiopia recognizes that, despite impressive growth rates, measures of human development remain unacceptably low” (fao.org). The statistics confirm this; life expectancy is 54.7, the annual per capita income is 170 USD, infant and maternal mortality as well as child malnutrition rates remain the highest in the world, adult literacy is less than half of the population, and 58% of the population have access to clean water (fao.org). Many Ethiopians rely on government intervention plans to survive, such as Productive Safety Net, a program that was created to lend money in exchange for work to food-insecure households, and other social programs. Although Ethiopia has secured a much better nation for its future generations, there must be other strategies put into effect to ensure that the existing populations are able to benefit from the improving growth rates and economy.

The rest of Sub-Saharan Africa must also ensure a better vision for its residents, future and present. Ultimately, extreme government intervention and advances in technological systems are what progressed the agricultural development in Ethiopia. Through the Growth and Transformation Plans, there were impactful investments into the agricultural and infrastructure sectors. For example, improving the irrigation systems throughout Ethiopia unequivocally led to a higher yield crop as well as usable water. Ethiopia has many more steps to take as a Sub-Saharan nation striving towards economic stability for its citizens, but its efforts insofar have been an inspiration for other nations to initiate such programs.

Works Cited

Ababa, Addis. “Growth and Transformation Plan.” Ethiopians , Ministry of Finance and Economic Development, Sept. 2010, www.ethiopians.com/Ethiopia_GTP_2015.pdf.

“FAO.org.” Ethiopia at a Glance | FAO in Ethiopia | Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations , Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations, www.fao.org/ethiopia/fao-in-ethiopia/ethiopia-at-a-glance/en/.

The Road Towards Food Sovereignty in Africa

Sat, 19 Sep 2020 00:16:00 GMT

“Food sovereignty is the right of people to healthy and culturally-appropriate food produced through ecologically sound and sustainable methods, and their right to define their own food and agriculture systems” (nffc.net). Essentially, food sovereignty is an initiative to combat the injustices faced by local communities- particularly the agricultural community- in relation to nutrition and individual food choices. It is unjust that the very communities that produce food face more poverty and malnutrition than any other- as aforementioned, these communities should have the right to define their own food and agriculture systems. Beyond defining their own food systems, it should be healthy and culturally appropriate to respective populations; food sovereignty will require a certain degree of self-sufficiency within each community.

Food sovereignty is an issue largely affecting Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). The population in this area is over 1.33 billion, which is roughly 17% of the world’s total population. Of this 1.33 billion, 61% of the population is involved in agriculture directly or indirectly. By 2050, the population is expected to double- this will lead to an unproportionate amount of the population under the age of 25. This means that the food supply will need to exceed double in order to feed a primarily young population. So far, there has been a huge gap between food production and consumption patterns. The regions have had to rely on importing crops such as rice, maize and wheat to meet their own local food needs.

Smallholder farms have not been able to dictate the process of their own agricultural system because the current food market in Africa gives top priority to the interests of transnational corporations and international investors. African nations have been pushed to dependency on foreign countries; for example, there are many imported fertilizers and agro-minerals coming into smallholder farms. In the article “Food Crisis and Sovereignty in Sub-Saharan Africa”, Zo Randriamaro, human rights and gender activist, discusses the need for food sovereignty in Madagascar. The government of Madagascar leased around half of the country’s arable land to a Korean Company- producing food and biofuel for the people of Korea, while “more than 59% of the Malagasy population suffer from chronic hunger” (Randriamaro). Madagascar is just one African nation that desperately needs food sovereignty. The monopolistic transnational corporations and international investors controlling the market place the wants of powerful players over the needs of smallholder producers; despite smallholder farming consisting of 80% of SSA farms, a livelihood for many households.

The impending question is, how can food sovereignty be salvaged in African nations? There is the financial aspect; necessary cuts in international expenditure and the need to maintain economic stability in these countries. There must be strives towards a self-sufficient Africa- all foreign imports in relation to the agricultural community should be produced at home. Foreign imports can be produced within Africa, one of the richest continents in terms of natural resources. Farmers end up paying multiple commissions to intermediaries until the production reaches the end-users- a drastic 50% markups can be added by these intermediaries. Thus, an effective supply chain is crucial to maximizing profits for smallholder farmers. This will not only affect import and transportation costs but will revive an economic cycle within the respective country.

Looking past finances, it is also imperative to accelerate farming within Africa. There are many potential threats to farming in Africa that limit food production such as water shortages, diseases, inaccessible markets and very little agricultural inputs. A solution to water shortages is water-saving irrigation practices- if SSA manufactured local irrigation systems, the prices could potentially be 1/3 of the imported systems. Further solutions for these threats are government involvement, strict quarantine laws and interactive training on diseases and pests. Government subsidies can greatly release the strain on farmers, as well as controlled prices on seeds, fertilizers, insecticides and farming equipment. Stricter quarantine laws could prevent many foreign diseases and pests that are invasive to African climates. Interactive training will boost farmers’ knowledge on all of the above topics and give them the ability to prevent such threats while simultaneously accelerating their own farming methods. With advanced food production systems, there will be more surpluses of food available for local consumption as well as international exporting.

Lastly, the grave issue of gender discrimination must be addressed. Women farmers account for 70% of food production in African nations, inextricably linking a lack of food sovereignty with gender discrimination. Farmers as well as intermediaries of the agricultural community must realize the vital role women play in agricultural production. Women farmers need to be at the forefront of making policy and defining food and agricultural systems within their own communities. You can learn more about the role of women farmers in West Africa in our previous blog post here .

Africa must become a self-sufficient continent to achieve food sovereignty, independent from foreign nations and investments. This calls for financial and economic stability, accelerated farming methods, and in-depth education and policy change to combat gender discrimination. FarmSahel is committed to tackling injustices and attaining food sovereignty in Africa. Our current projects will assist farmers, women farmers in particular, with advanced farming methods and training to achieve agricultural independence.

Works Cited

“Food Sovereignty.” National Family Farm Coalition, 12 Sept. 2019, nffc.net/what-we-

do/food-sovereignty/.

Randriamaro, Zo. “Food Crisis and Sovereignty in Sub-Saharan Africa.” DawnNet,

www.dawnnet.org/uploads/documents/PRESENTATION_ZO_Food%20Crisis%20and%

20Sovereignty_PEAS.pdf.

Benefits of Soil Fertilizers for Sub-Saharan Africa

Wed, 26 Aug 2020 01:01:00 GMT

Fertile soil is the foundation for numerous and nutritious food production. Therefore, soil fertility will lead to resilient and sustainable crops; this is essential for farmers to sustain their own livelihoods. In Sub-Saharan Africa, soil fertility is one of the largest threats faced by the agricultural community. The soils here are vastly unhealthy, “due to years of crop nutrient-mining and limited organic or inorganic resupply” (Jones). In their current state, these soils are incapable of providing enough crop to feed the region’s population- this leads to severe nutrient depletion and low crop yields. Poverty in these regions can also be directly associated to this situation. Alongside a rapidly growing population, Sub-Saharan Africa must figure out a way to nurture its soils to be able to provide adequate nutrition to its people.

Mineral Fertilizers

Mineral fertilizers may potentially be the fix for depleted soils in Sub-Saharan Africa. As opposed to organic fertilizers, such as manure, mineral fertilizers are chemically composed. They contain many more nutrients than organic fertilizers and can drastically increase crop yields as well as the quality of the crops. However, the nutrients in mineral fertilizers must be customized to the crop that will be supplied. Mineral fertilizers can easily fail if they do not meet specific crop requirements. In addition to that, mineral fertilizers are very costly in Sub-Saharan Africa. This is partially due to high transportation costs, which can ultimately increase farm gate prices by 15-34% [1] ; almost all of the fertilizers used in Sub-Saharan Africa are imported. Furthermore, mineral fertilizers are not available in high supply the whole year in Sub-Saharan Africa. Most significantly, local farmers are lacking knowledge on what specific types of mineral fertilizers to use and how to best apply them.

Agro-Minerals

The naturally occurring nutritious materials, agro-minerals, can also be a great solution to increasing fertility. These rocks and minerals are known to improve the conditions of soils. In both processed and unprocessed forms, they can be used in crop systems to enhance soil production. Their nutritious content can be released into the soil over long periods of times as a long-term fix to soil fertility. Thus, it is crucial to recognize each region’s indigenous agro-mineral resources available. Africa is said to account for a whopping 75% of agro-mineral deposits in the world; thus, why has it remained largely untouched? This method would require cooperation by African farmers to invest in external outputs and industrial expansion. The long-term effects may be off putting to many of these local farmers. However, the large deposits of these agro-minerals may offer much lower costs than importing mineral fertilizers.

Potential Solutions

Of the two viable solutions, mineral fertilizers seem to offer a quicker and larger crop yield; agro-minerals are a potentially inexpensive alternative to long-term yield effects. Despite the advantages and disadvantages of both of these methods, there must be a change as soon as possible. Sub-Saharan Africa’s population is booming, whilst the crop yield is slowly diminishing. Nutrient depleted soils will lead to even lower crop yields, contributing directly to poverty and famine. It is evident that agro-mineral deposits must be tapped into for farmers’ sakes; Africa’s great amount of natural resources should be utilized. Tapping into these deposits can also cut costs from importing fertilizers. Nonetheless, it is crucial to note the importance of fertilizers. Mineral fertilizers have been known to double yield; “In Malawi, farmers who applied fertilizer had 105% more yield” (Mineral Fertilizers). If Sub-Saharan Africa was to manufacture and produce their own fertilizers, it would not be so costly for local farmers as import fees would be largely cut. Furthermore, local farmers must be educated about the benefits of fertilizers, how to use them and which ones to use. Until then, a combination of agro-minerals and fertilizers seems like the best option to ensure short-term and long-term success in the immense agricultural community of Sub-Saharan Africa. FarmSahel is committed to improving the farming conditions and quality of life in Sub-Saharan Africa and is calling for immediate action to tackle these existing hurdles.

By Suhi Saran

Farming in Sub-Saharan Africa

Sat, 15 Aug 2020 21:41:00 GMT

Sub-Saharan Africa’s population is over 1.33 billion, which is roughly 17% of the world’s total population. Of this 1.33 billion, 61% of the Sub-Saharan population is involved in agriculture directly or indirectly. By 2050, the population is expected to double- this will lead to an unproportionate amount of the population under the age of 25. This means that the food supply will need to exceed double in order to feed a primarily young population.

Overall, the region contains 2455 million hectares of land; of this, about only 174 million hectares are cultivated for annual and perennial crops. This is approximately ¼ of the region’s true potential. Of the total arable land in Sub-Saharan Africa, arid and semiarid agricultural regions compose 43%.

Despite the richness in natural resources, there seems to be a huge gap between food production and consumption patterns. The region has to rely on importing crops such as rice, maize and wheat to meet its own local food needs. Sub-Saharan Africa has the lowest per hectare yield of major cereal crops despite the several farming systems that have been implemented. These systems have certain limitations that need critical attention by their local governments, as well as relevant organizations, in order to benefit the farmers as well as their respective countries and people.

Irrigated Farming

The irrigated farming system in Sub-Saharan African consists of irrigation schemes that cover about 35 million hectares of land- within this area exists a population of over 7 million people. The average farm here varies from 1 hectare of land to 22 hectares of land per family. Additional irrigation is derived from rainfall, which families are very dependent upon. Crop failures in this area are minimum, but the farmer’s income is subjected to water scarcity. Thus, livelihoods are vulnerable to water shortages, as well as scheme itemizations, and flagging input and output prices. Multiple schemes are wearing out due to excessive institutional documentation and local distortions. However, with the right amount of attention and priority, water scarcity can be resolved to drastically boost agricultural production.

Trees & Crops Interculture

Intercultural tree and crop practices are observed in the humid areas of Western and Central Africa. Almost 73 million hectares, and a population of 25 million people, depend on these practices. However, only 100 thousand hectares are irrigated out of 10 million hectares of cultivated area.

The dominant tree crops include rubber, cocoa, oil palm and coffee while the intercrops include legumes, cassava and various vegetables. Mainly, both of these types of crops rely on rain-harvest water and direct precipitation. Inter-cultured crops are dealt with as cash crops to meet routine living expenses.

Cereal-Root Crop Mixed Farming

Cereal-root crop mixed farming is practiced in regions of Southern and Central Africa, as well as both dry and sub-humid regions of Western Africa. This covers about 315 million hectares, with a population over 59 million in these regions. Approximately 42 million cattle heads are raised in these areas. Out of the 31 million hectares of cultivated area, only 400 thousand hectares get irrigation from multiple irrigation systems.

Common cereals include sorghum, maize, millets as well as the root crops yam and cassava. Intercropping patterns and rotations bring multiple sources of income for farmers. Maize, sorghum and millet are widely cultivated, but it is the root crops that bring instant cash. They can be immediately sold in local markets. Intercropping is a routine practice that strengthens this particular farming system, due to these crops’ significance worldwide.

Drought is a major problem for crop mixed farming and can severely limit overall crops under yield potential. Strengthening this system may lead to a strong boost of agriculture production in the area and add a significant amount to the gross income of farmers.

Maize Mixed Farming

Maize mixed farming is mostly adapted to Southern and Eastern Africa and extends across plateaus as well as higher altitudes ranging between 800 to 1500 meters above sea level. This area covers about 246 million hectares, with a population of 60 million. Out of this area, only 32 million hectares are cultivated for use.

The primary farming income is from maize, the main staple of food. Livestock also contribute greatly to the daily living of the agricultural community. Cotton, coffee and tobacco are common cash crops.

The high prices and scarcity of agricultural inputs like seeds, fertilizers, insecticides and farming equipment are all potential threats to meet the yield potential of maize crops in these areas. Drought mixed with the volatility of agricultural input prices is a major constraint for the agricultural community here. Otherwise, the growth opportunities are countless for local farmers, as well as Sub-Saharan and international investors.

Agro-Pastoral Farming

This farming system relies on livestock farming, primarily in arid and semiarid parts of Southern and Eastern Africa, as well as semiarid Western Africa. Only 22 million hectares of cultivated land are used for agro-pastoral farming; due to the limited availability of cultivated land in these areas, there is often a scarcity in food production.

The overall area consists of 198 million hectares, where crops can be as equally important as livestock. Small farmers will generate earnings through pulses and sesame, while stable crops like pearl millets and sorghum are the major food source.

The main issue is water scarcity for over 25 million cattle heads, on 22 million hectares of rain-fed agriculture.

Types of Crops in Sub-Saharan Africa

Irrigated Crops : Rice, Maize, Wheat, Vegetables, Banana, Sweet Potato, Sunflower, Coconut, Potato, Enset and Cassava

Cereal Crops : Wheat, Rice, Barley, Sorghum, Maize and Pearl Millets

Tree Crops : Date Palms, Cocoa, Coffee, Palm and Rubber

Root Crops : Yam, Sweet Potato and Cassava

Vegetable and Herb Crops : Beans, Plantain, Peanut, Peppers, Eggplant, Cucumber, Rooibos, Devil’s Claw, Buchu, Cape Aloe and Hoodia

Cash Crops : Tef, Legumes, Tobacco, Cotton, Cocoa, Lentils, Cashew and Vegetables

Potential Threats and Strategic Priorities for Sub-Saharan Africa

Water Shortages

Sub-Saharan Africa consists of an extensive nature of farming systems, and there is a significant chance for further improvement in terms of yield potential. Only 6% of arable lands are irrigated here; compare this to Asia, where this ration stands at 40%. Additional optimization of water resources along with prospecting water-saving irrigation practices such as drip irrigation, sprinklers and hydrophonics would lead to boosting yield potential of all farming systems in use. If Sub-Saharan Africa manufactured local irrigation systems, the prices could potentially be 1/3 of the imported systems.

Agricultural Inputs

The majority of the farmers are smallholders, where sustainable agriculture intensification would trigger production. Easing and increasing access to agriculture inputs through government intervention, such as subsidies, before sowing season will lighten the burden on farmers along with controlling the prices of seeds, fertilizers, insecticides and farm equipment. Adoption of precise and innovative technologies would be a terrific milestone for farmworkers as to ease operations on smaller farms.

Diseases and Pests

Diseases are unfortunately a major threat for African farmers; some diseases are native to the region, while others are either seeds born or brought through imported goods from different sources of origin due to weak quarantine laws. Similarly, more than 50 insect pest species are invasive to African climates, such as the melon fly, the green citrus aphid and the fall armyworm. Farmers require interactive training on how pests damage crops, how to identify them and control them using precise doses of insecticides. On the other hand, authorities should be required to observe stricter quarantine laws while importing seeds and seedlings for planting and food for local consumption.

Market Accessibility

Supply chains in Sub-Saharan African agriculture normally do not exist or are very fragmented if they do. This can be observed for farm productions as well for farming inputs. Farmers pay multiple commissions to intermediaries until the production reaches end-users; inputs reach farmers after 3 to 4 hand changes, which ultimately adds 2 to 3 folds to its source price. Generally, 50% or more markups are added by functional intermediaries working as dealers, vendors and distributors. An effective supply chain could benefit farmers in purchasing inputs at fair prices, along with disposing their produce at competitive rates in the market. This is possible through community-based e-commerce or motivating farmers to develop aggregator economic models in the region.

The copiousness of natural possessions in the region guarantees a projection in the agricultural development, provided that incentive-based schemes are launched within small farm holders to boost national production levels. The phenomenon of Farmer’s Field School can lead to developing an interactive approach to learn technologies and innovations with the collaboration of International Agriculture Input Manufacturer; this will allow all efforts and work to be made in the best interest of their respective regions.

Women farmers in west Africa

Tue, 30 Apr 2019 17:42:00 GMT

"Food sovereignty – the ability to have access to land and the right and freedom to grow (and keep) healthy and affordable food – is not a concept generally applied to citizens of the United States. However, women in many countries, like those in West Africa, have no legal right to own the land they farm or even to keep the food they grow on it.

Fatou Batta , Co-Coordinator for West Africa from Groundswell International , spoke recently in Seattle about the causes of food insecurity in Africa, particularly in Burkina Faso; the role of rural women in agricultural production and food security; the challenges rural West African women face; and some of the solutions they have developed.

Food security is more than just the cost of food; however, in many African countries, food costs are extremely high. In the east African country of Kenya, about 45% of a family’s income goes for food. That number is only slightly lower in the west African countries of Cameroon and Nigeria, where food costs are 38-39% of a family’s income. Contrast that with food costs here in the United States, where we spend less than 7% of our incomes on food.

Goats and other livestock are important for rural livelihoods and soil fertility in Burkina Faso.

Despite efforts to reduce hunger and malnutrition, food insecurity remains a daily reality in countries like Burkina Faso. Contributing factors are low access to, and poor management of, water; degraded natural resources; inadequate roads and communication infrastructure; low income; poor access to credit, and poor education. A new threat comes from land grabs for cultivation of non-food crops or food crops for export.

In Africa, women are the primary link between production, consumption, and nutrition management for families and children. Women have become more responsible for agricultural production because men have had to leave the rural areas to seek work in cities. And during times of crisis women play a central role in household food production and food security.

In sub-Saharan Africa, women provide more than 50% of agricultural labor – the highest proportion in the world. In rural Burkina Faso more than 80% of the women are responsible for all farming activities. In some areas of western Burkina Faso, women must work to repay the dowry paid by their husbands, and to do so – and to feed their families – they have to cultivate highly degraded plots no longer useful for raising crops to be sold commercially.

Family in Burkina Faso with vegetables harvested from village field.

The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reports that if women in rural areas had the same access to land, technology, financial services, education, and markets as men, it would be possible to increase agricultural production and reduce the numbers of hungry in the world by 100 to 150 million people.

Rural women also provide food-related, non-farming activities such as processing, preservation, and marketing of agricultural products. They are responsible for storage, transportation, distribution, and development of local markets.

Despite the importance of their roles, women farmers are not involved by policy makers and funding sources in decisions regarding rural development programs and policies. They have little access to training on technical and management issues and they are not able to access equipment and inputs that are intended for family farms, yet are controlled by the men of the household.

Clearly, development strategies to improve the food security of small rural producers in West Africa must include support for rural women. And, there are a number of African organizations, including regional and national networks, that are working to promote alternative solutions based on the experiences of African farmers and that are appropriate to the African context."

"Published on GoodFood World "

Farming Equipment, a luxury for African Farmers

Tue, 30 Apr 2019 17:42:00 GMT

A critical step into modernizing agriculture is the adoption of mechanization in replacing human labour. Most of Africa is still far behind this stage. In sub-Saharan Africa, over 60% of farm power is still provided by human muscle, mostly from women, the elderly and children. Only 25% of farm power is provided by animals, while less than 20% of mechanization services are provided by engine power.

West African agriculture is a huge industry because most people living in rural areas rely on farming to feed their families; However, most farmers operate on small plot sizes, which means they don’t make enough money to invest in a big piece of machinery. Farm power in West Africa depends on human muscle, and mostly on hoes and other hand tools. Such tools have implied limitations in term of productivity, principally in a tropical environment. Hand-hoes were the core tool used in most African countries. They were used for weeding in central Senegal, displacing traditional hoes. Burkina Faso was one of the few countries where special planting tools were used, one of them known as the"pioche" (pick). In Burkina Faso, farmers use traditional tools to make rows prior to planting. Using hand tools for farming has serious issues, among them is time killing and extra labor. Although most of African farmers have financial limitations to shift to mechanized farming, some of them are trying hard to make the move.

Rapid urbanization puts African farmers under pressure to produce more with less labor, as more people migrate to cities or engage in rural non-farm work. In response, farmers in many parts of Africa have revealed increased demand for mechanization.

Even-thought many NGOs are working on providing farmers with sophisticated tools and systems needed for modern farming, a big number of farmers still rely on their traditional farming techniques.

Africa has the land, water and people needed to be an efficient agricultural producer. This potential is yet far from being fully explored. To reduce poverty and boost economic growth, Africa will have to develop a vibrant and prosperous agricultural sector. FarmSahel is revolutionizing agriculture in Africa by using training and equipment to reach the standards of productivity. Our vision is to see Africa feed its own population, and become a net exporter of agricultural products.

Sustainability, Continuous improvement, and climate change in Burkina Faso

Tue, 30 Apr 2019 17:42:00 GMT

Burkina Faso is among the lowest income countries with a population of over 20 million, increasing at the rate of 3% annually while 40% population living under the poverty line in a landlocked country in West Africa. Its economy has reflected a considerable growth in the last 10 to 15 years that’s trailing around 6% annually while it's entirely dependent on Agriculture, Livestock, and Forestry along with income from exploiting mineral resources. Agriculture contributes around 30% in the country’s GDP that employs over 90% workforce in rural Burkina Faso. The sector dominates small farmers possessing less than 5 hectares on average that produce cotton, maize & millets. Maize contributes the biggest volumes whereas Cotton the maximum revenues for the country and stands leading crop in production and export among Africa. The cereals make up the living of rural populations while urban populations choose Rice & Maize. Poverty persists more in rural areas compared to the urban despite more than 1 decade of sustainable growth for the reason country still stands 183rd in the poverty list among 186 countries.

Sustainability in Agriculture:

As the country has been in severe shocks due to climate change and economic factors such as floods, drought, fuel prices hikes and triggered by the worsening cotton trade and population hikes that need to be addressed by the International Donors, NGO’s, Government Organization and Local influencers to make accurate measures for the correction of economy on the long-term basis.

We at Burkina Faso, together with our Internation donors, NGO’s, Ministry of Agriculture together with their experts and professionals , have similar motives for the small farming communities to help them identify the causes for not achieving the sustainable growth and to provide them with guidelines & training that will assist them to achieve sustainability and the continuous improvement in the field of Agriculture along with sustainable measures to fight the impacts of climate change in the country.

Considering Agriculture a major contributor in streamlining the country’s economy and boosting the GDP of Burkina Faso we believe that education & training will bring a positive change in the lives of the small farmers whether they have their focus on agriculture farming, livestock or allied agriculture business.

As we are for behind in our average yield of common cereal and cash crops from the Africa and rest of the world that stands 4-5 tonnes for maize in Africa while rest of the world produces up to 10 tonnes per hectare whereas we struggled to produce 2 tonnes per hectare despite 25% increase in Maize yields in 2018. Similarly for Cotton, we could hardly produce 1.3 million bales in the year 2017 that stands 333 kg per hectare compared to the world yield around 3000 kg’s hectare and lost our national status for standing no.1 in the region just because of the heavy pest infestations especially cotton bollworms and sucking pests. Other prominent reasons that figured out were the banning of BT Cotton and poor knowledge on the insect pest behavior and lack in the training, technique and proper insecticides to control such pest infestation on conventional varieties in Burkina Faso despite its cultivation on 700000 hectares.

Impacts of Climate Change on Sustainability:

The weather of the country is categorized by pointedly fluctuating levels of rainfall with a clear indication in the rainfall decline from south to north causing an increase in temperatures and severity in the climate patterns for every coming year. Agriculture farming is a type of business that is open to natural calamities whereas climate change is among the list of such calamities that disrupts water resources and forests and on top of the list is general Agriculture. An agriculture-dependent economy may have serious penalties in the shape of droughts, floods, and desertification that may lead to food insecurity, price hikes reversing the country's economy.

Identified issues in Agriculture Sustainability:

Generally, diving deeply into the causes that hinder the process of sustainability or slow it down from the desired pace at least, we may conclude;

Our strength for Continuous Improvement and Sustainability: