ORGANIC FARMING A CHALLENGING ALTERNATIVE FOR SUSTAINABILITY

Conventional farming and food production practices in many sub-Saharan countries have proved to be a
source of environmental and public health problems, mostly due to the use of cancer-causing pesticides,
water contamination, and antibiotic resistant bugs. Thankfully there is an alternative to this problem,
organic farming, a technique for cultivating plants and breeding animals in natural ways, using biological
materials and avoiding synthetic substances to maintain soil fertility and ecological balance while
minimizing wastage and pollution.

A group of women in the outskirts of Ouagadougou has chosen to experiment with this type of farming
in Burkina Faso, growing vegetables without pesticides or artificial fertilizers, something highly unusual
in a country where agriculture is at a subsistence level and acceptance of organic products proves to be
difficult.

Getting locals to buy organic vegetables is a major challenge due to their smaller size compared to the
regular products, but this is not the only issue, lack of water and modern infrastructure represent the
biggest obstacles for the development of organic agriculture. Often farmers lack of tools and
transportation to sell their products in the capital’s local markets. This new initiative offers the women a
steady income, but profits are still low.

The country’s farmers union calls more help to develop this sector of agriculture. Bassiaka Dao, Farmers
Association President calls for more opportunities, investment in infrastructure and the promotion of
this type of business that will benefit the Burkinabe population quality of life through sustainable
practices.