Inades-Formation Burkina and Swiss NGO Fastenopfer share the same objective, that is, promoting a socially and environmentally responsible agriculture. The two organizations have therefore committed to a partnership for the support of farmers’ organizations for a transition to agro-ecology through a project entitled « Support for the capacity building of Fastenopfer’s partner organizations for a transition to agro-ecology « .
All over the world, the intensive food model is at an impasse: destruction of the soil, destruction of resources, ruin of farmers, etc. In terms of alternatives, agro-ecology, which is a resilient and sustainable agricultural practice, constitutes an effective response to reconcile food security, preservation of the agro-system and economic and social development. It is based on the use of local resources, knowledge and local know-how with the aim of improving the environment or at least not harming it.
In Burkina Faso, the type of cultivation in small scale agro-ecological farms is becoming increasingly popular. Despite that, there are not many training opportunities in the field of agro-ecology.
Thus, the Swiss NGO Fastenopfer, which, as part of its country program (PPP) in Burkina Faso, wants to promote a socially and environmentally responsible agriculture, has launched a pilot project to support the agro-ecological transition and has entrusted its implementation to Inades-Formation Burkina Faso.
Known as « Support for the capacity building of Fastenopfer’s partner organizations for a transition to agro-ecology », the overarching goal of the project was to strengthen the capacities of eleven (11) farmers’ organizations (FOs) partners of Fastenopfer in the field of transition to agro-ecology. The technical teams of the beneficiary FOs were to be supported in the practical implementation for a transition to agro-ecology.
The project was carried out in the Boucle du Mouhoun, Center-West, Center, North, Center-North, Center-South, East and Sahel regions.
During the pilot phase, which lasted three months, from September to November 2017, Inades-Formation Burkina first organized a self-assisted diagnostic session in each FO, then, a workshop to share the results of the diagnoses and develop a capacity building plan for the technical teams of the FOs.
These actions have helped clarify the concept of agro-ecology with the beneficiaries, to better know the farmers’ organizations involved and to characterize the current situation of each farmer organization in terms of agro-ecology.
A three-year action plan for building the capacities of the farmer organizations’ technical teams in the transition to agro-ecology has been drawn up and should serve as a basis for Fastenopfer to develop a project to support its partner farmer organizations.
