The central-western region of Burkina Faso has been significantly affected by conflict, resulting in the displacement of thousands of people. These internally displaced people (IDPs) are now resettling in new communities within the Kaya-Dori region, where local families are hosting them. To support both the IDPs and their host families, a project focused on building resilience along the Kaya-Dori Axis has been initiated to provide humanitarian and sustainable development assistance.
As a part of this project, five community gardens will be established across the project area to benefit 750 households. These gardens are aimed at enhancing the nutritional status of the project participants. Recognizing that these gardens alone may not be sufficient to meet the vegetable production needs of all households, the project has introduced innovative training on vegetable cultivation using various easily transportable containers such as bags and pots.
Ms. Sawadogo Asseta works at the ‘Alliance Technique d’Assistance au Développement (ATAD)’, one of the local implementing partners of the project. Ms. Asseta oversees the vegetable container gardening component of the project, known as ‘Building Resilience on the Kaya-Dori Axis’, which is funded by KOICA, and supported by its technical partner, the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI). She is very pleased with the training results so far, as many IDPs and members of their host communities have successfully grown vegetables using container gardening methods without any chemical fertilizers, just forty (40) days after the training session.
Ms. Asseta explained step by step what led to the success of the project. “Enrollment was voluntary,” Ms. Asseta said. “We organized a public event in the neighborhood with the largest number of IDPs, to explain the advantages of vegetable container gardening. We also presented the requirements in terms of commitment and water needed for successful vegetable container gardening,” Ms. Asseta clarified. “Then, from the group of volunteers, 30 participants were selected, 20 of whom were women,” she continued. Once the selection concluded, a training program began for the participants. The training focused on technical production methods for the following crops: tomatoes, onions, lettuce, aubergine, pepper, and cabbage.
The week-long theoretical and practical training enabled participants to 1) master the technical production methods for the crops commonly used by participants in their daily cooking; 2) gain a better understanding of the nutritional value of several vegetables; 3) learn about the type of recycled materials best suited for the vegetable container gardening; 4) learn about the organic pesticides needed to treat plants in the event of parasitic attacks and, above all, how to produce organic fertilizer and biopesticides…
Every fortnight, the trainer and the participants also gathered to visit the vegetable container gardens in the homes of at least ten individuals. The number of plants and containers has steadily increased, along with the enthusiasm for growing vegetables. Many participants were previously unaware that they could cultivate vegetables at home with minimal resources. The guided visits enabled participants to learn from their peers and observe how some had diversified their crops and mastered techniques which they now share with others in the community. Additionally, many participants have enhanced the diversity of their crops by introducing sorrel (spinach), cowpeas, and okra—vegetables commonly used in local cuisine. Beyond the realm of vegetables, bonds have also formed between IDPs and host families through shared meetings and collaborative activities.
The families of each participant are also content with the container gardens, which enrich the family diet, offer a variety of meals, and reduce household expenditure on vegetables. Mr. Kanazoe, the husband of Ms. Adjarata, one of the participants, remarked, “The vegetable container gardening is a great nutritional support for the family. We spend less money on certain vegetables, and my children eat a balanced diet.” From 30 initial participants, many host families and IDPs have now embraced vegetable container gardening. The first participants in the training have also shared their knowledge with other residents, and the number of families with home gardens using containers is now estimated to have grown to 100.
One of the challenges facing the project is the region’s water scarcity during dry periods, which hinders the irrigation of the allotments. An appeal is being made to development partners in the Center-west region of Burkina Faso to collaborate in finding solutions to ensure continuous access to water for the people of Kaya. As part of this project, five boreholes are being drilled in the community gardens, but the distance between these gardens and the houses of IDPs will limit vegetable container gardening during dry periods.
Following the adoption of vegetable container gardening by IDPs and host families GGGI plans to support the initial 30 participants in becoming trainers themselves and training other IDPs and host families in the town of Kaya. Additionally, GGGI is working towards creating opportunities for marketing surplus vegetables harvested after daily household consumption, as several participants have been able to produce quantities that could provide financial support for these families.