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Develop agroforestry islands in farming environments
Burkina Faso
Develop agroforestry islands in farming environments
Project leader
Duration of the partnership
2020-2022
Location
Burkina Faso
The project's goals
Since 2008, the French association Terre & Humanisme has supported its Burkinabé partner the AIDMR (Associction Interzone pour le Développement Rural) in its work to promote agroecology in Burkina Faso. The two associations have worked together since 2017 on an Agroecology Programme for Food Sovereignty and adaptation to climate change in West Africa (PASAAO).
Since 2015, the AIDMR has developed the concept of farming agroecology islands (IAEP) to help poor rural families set up productive agroecology micro-farms in a context of the overuse of resources and climate change. Training, material support, and technical monitoring-assistance are set up so that each island represents an integrated and varied agroecosystem that can ensure the nutritional and economic autonomy of a farming family.
Over an area of ¼ ha managed in agroforestry, each island welcomes more than 2,300 fruit trees and hedges, as well as a natural planted area, and a vegetable garden that, ultimately, will supply the surrounding families. A habitat, a small animal breeding area, and a vegetable and cereal production zone complete the agroecology island.
Currently numbering 25, agroecology islands represent strategic levers for the promotion of agroecology and also, for encouraging reforestation and the sustainable community management of natural resources.
The Maisons du Monde Foundation is supporting Terre & Humanisme in the development of 12 new agroforestry islands in 4 project areas in Burkina Faso for the 2020-2022 period.
The beneficiaries
Thanks to its expertise, Terre & Humanisme allows the involvement of 12 farming families and their 120 or so members in charge of the islands, with a direct impact on 12 farming organisations and their 360 members trained and supported in the acquisition of agroecological practices within the islands.
This project also helps to raise the awareness of more than 6,000 villagers concerning the challenges of the ecological transition, the sustainable management of natural resources, and climate change.
The project's benefits
The creation of these new agroforestry islands aims to:
- Promote ecological sustainability, social responsibility and the economic viability of living systems and agricultural production. What’s more, agroecologyoffers a philosophy and ethic that respects living beings, the hinge pin for a coherent society project and involving a global approach to all aspects of economic and social organisations beyond food production systems.
- Favour food autonomy and, thus ensure sovereignty.
- Combat desertification and preserve biodiversity by offering a concrete and realistic approach to the global climate problem.
Project leader Terre & Humanisme
Missions: share, transmit, support agroecology
By sharing agroecology in Northern and Southern countries, the French association Terre & Humanisme intervenes in the training and awareness-raising of farming stakeholders and the general public in order to accompany and support the agroecological transition.
Terre & Humanisme’s actions aim to reconcile the response to the essential needs of all humans to feed themselves and the need to preserve the land, the sole guarantor of collective survival.
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“Since we started to apply agroecology practices, our difficulties have decreased because the harvests are increasingly good and this contributes to food self-sufficiency. Today, we have more income for children’s school fees, and health care for family members”
Kafando Konlobé farmer supported by the AIDMR.“In agroecological islands, trees play an important role as a natural hedge to protect the island from desertification, as a food source for the farming family, and as a space for preserving the local biodiversity. It is with agroecological islands that we can achieve the goal of empowering farmers on their own land.”
Jean Aimé KITINGA Manager of evaluation monitoring at Terre & Humanisme Ouagadougou