Strengthening local food systems for a sustainable future
Small but effective initiatives are transforming food security in vulnerable communities.
In Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, agriculture and livestock are crucial to food security. Pro-ARIDES aims to strengthen the resilience of these food systems. The programme's efforts are transforming lives by improving household nutrition, equipping local farmers with skills and resources for sustainable agriculture, and promoting peaceful, collective use of natural resources. The Kélègnè Women's Cooperative is an inspiring example of these efforts.
The Kélègnè women's cooperative in Nébia, Burkina Faso
In the village of Nébia, in the Dassa commune of Burkina Faso, the Kélègnè women's cooperative is a beacon of resilience and community spirit. The cooperative, whose name means "community is good", has 67 members (65 women and 2 men). They manage a one-hectare community garden, growing crops such as onions, tomatoes, peppers, sorrel and potatoes. This garden not only provides food for household consumption but also contributes to food and nutrition security and generates income for members, reducing economic vulnerability.
In 2022, through a partnership with Pro-ARIDES, the cooperative saw significant improvements. These included the construction and rehabilitation of water basins to improve water storage and management, ensuring a reliable water supply for irrigation. Capacity building workshops also trained members in nursery production techniques and the production of simple compost and bokashi.
Some members of the Kélègnè women's cooperative
Onion preservation hut: A game changer for storage and preservation
One of the major challenges facing the onion industry in Burkina Faso is the lack of adequate storage facilities, resulting in significant post-harvest losses. To address this, Pro-ARIDES supported the cooperative to develop an innovative storage solution, the onion storage hut. This hut has proven to be a game-changer by:
• Extending the shelf-life of produce: Built with a steel frame and local materials, the hut provides natural ventilation, extending the shelf-life of onions to six to eight months.
• Cost-effective: Built for two million F CFA, the hut provides a low-cost yet highly effective storage solution.
• Improved livelihoods: By reducing storage losses, the hut helps to increase the income of cooperative members. The storage fees (CFA 2,500 per portion) are used to maintain the hut.
Since the cooperative started using the hut, the benefits have been immediate. Members, especially those who have secured storage portions, have avoided significant losses and better managed their produce.
Members of the Kélègnè women's cooperative working on their farm.
Impact on the community
The onion storage hut, with a capacity of seven tonnes, has already benefited several members of the cooperative. The facility not only helps to preserve onions, but also adds value by providing a reliable means of storage and reducing the risk of spoilage. This in turn acts as a food and nutritional safety net for households and contributes to the overall economic value chain of the community.
The president of the cooperative, Kandiel Dasmaté, emphasised the importance of the initiative: 'Storage in the hut is the best. One of our women wasn't lucky enough to have a share in the hut and she suffered a lot from dry rot. Others who were more fortunate were forced to sell their new crop of onions at the local market because they did not have the means to preserve them and avoid the risk of damage.’
The resilience of food systems is crucial to the development of households and local communities. Initiatives such as the onion storage hut in Nébia demonstrate how strategic interventions can increase agricultural production, improve food and nutrition security, and provide economic stability. By supporting and empowering local cooperatives, programmes like Pro-ARIDES play a vital role in building sustainable food systems that benefit entire communities.
In a world facing many challenges, the resilience and innovation demonstrated by the 'Kélègnè' cooperative offers inspiration for locally-led sustainable development and empowered communities. Through strategic partnerships and interventions, we can build a future where food security and economic stability are accessible to all.