We recently met one exceptional farmer whose story speaks to the heart of our work: Wango Emmanuel, from Bonessin, Burkina Faso. After spending several years living and working in Côte d'Ivoire, Emmanuel returned to his native village amid a grave political crisis. His only means of feeding his family was a small plot of land he inherited from his father. But the soil had hardened like cement, rendered unproductive by decades of extractive farming practices common in the area. As soil … [Read more...] about How Agroecological Farming Transformed Emmanuel’s Field in Burkina Faso
West Africa
Community-Led Responses to Conflict in the Sahel: Displaced Families Finding Refuge through Agroecology
Dakuyo Izoun, a 55-year-old butcher from Doumbala, Burkina Faso, was forced to rebuild his life from scratch when armed groups attacked his village. As the country grapples with one of the world’s most neglected polycrisis, thousands are fleeing their homes in search of safety in neighboring countries. But even in the Sahel, one of the harshest environments on Earth, communities are finding ways to care for each other, building powerful models of solidarity and resilience while providing refuge … [Read more...] about Community-Led Responses to Conflict in the Sahel: Displaced Families Finding Refuge through Agroecology
Young Voices from Mali and Honduras Celebrate Nature and Soil Conservation with Art
This month, youth from Mali and Honduras wrote, drew and spoke about their connection to nature in honor of World Nature Conservation Day and International Day for the Conservation of Soil. As participants in our Youth Storyteller Program, they document the transition to agroecology in their communities, filming, interviewing and photographing their families working in the field. Over time, they acquire essential farming skills, protect their land, and inspire rural youth to stay in their … [Read more...] about Young Voices from Mali and Honduras Celebrate Nature and Soil Conservation with Art
Agroecology in Senegal: Lessons from Mohammed’s Innovative Model Farm
Thiès is the third largest city in Senegal. It resembles a mini-Dakar: narrow streets of cement and unfinished buildings buzz with street vendors, unlicensed motorcycles, and corner cafés selling mostly Western food. While Dakar's coastline enjoys a fresh sea breeze in April, Thiès is engulfed in crushing heat that tastes like sand and smells like gasoline. But weather aside, the city is a marketplace of innovation and ideas, and a testing ground for innovative and sustainable farming methods … [Read more...] about Agroecology in Senegal: Lessons from Mohammed’s Innovative Model Farm
Women Farmers and Climate Change in West Africa
By: Dioma Komonsira Already weakened by gender inequalities and socio-cultural norms, women farmers in West Africa face new challenges in the context of climate change. Due to the dependence of West African agriculture on rainfall, extreme weather events such as prolonged droughts, flash floods, and bushfires are becoming more frequent in the region and have a direct impact on harvests and, by extension, on the food security of farming households, especially women. Difficult access to water, … [Read more...] about Women Farmers and Climate Change in West Africa
We stand with AFSA’s Statement on AfDB’s Dakar 2 Food Summit
What are the solutions to "feed Africa?" Please read this important statement from the Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa (AFSA). Groundswell International, through our West Africa network, is an active member of AFSA, the largest civil society network on the continent. Diversity, not false solutions, is key to achieving food sovereignty and resilience in Africa As 34 heads of state and 70 ministers return home after three days of ‘food and agriculture delivery compact’ … [Read more...] about We stand with AFSA’s Statement on AfDB’s Dakar 2 Food Summit