As part of the “Stakeholders’ program of structured actions to combat desertification” (PASS-LCD), CARI and its partners wish to highlight the women and men working daily to promote agroecology in the Sahel. These champions for agroecology carry out advocacy work at various levels (local, national, international) and work with local populations to encourage the emergence of agroecological practices and demonstrate their relevance in the combat against desertification.
Read an interview with Ismael Allahi BIZO, a young agro-economist from Niger who is actively involved in empowering communities through agroecology. He is the founder and current president of the Youth Association for Environment and civic education (AJEEC)* and director of the Social and Solidarity Economy Factory**.
When did you first become interested in agroecology? Was there a key moment that raised your awareness?
My interest in agroecology began in 2018, when I was still a student and joined the Sahel Desertification Network (ReSaD) as a volunteer. I quickly became fascinated by the issues surrounding sustainable land management, environmental advocacy and climate challenges in our region. This fascination has had a profound influence on my career path, leading me to choose an innovative subject for my Master’s thesis on the economic impact of sustainable land management. At the time, I was asking myself an essential question: how did we get into this situation of environmental destruction, and why do young people seem so little involved in the combat against desertification? It is in this spirit of reflection and action that I launched the International Youth Forum on Desertification in 2019, marking the concrete beginning of my commitment to agroecology and inclusive ecological transition.
What does agroecology mean to you? What does it represent?
For me, agroecology is above all an opportunity to rethink our production systems in depth, to manage our natural resources better, and to strengthen the resilience of communities to the effects of climate change. This approach makes perfect sense in Sahelian countries, and in particular the countries of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), which are faced with multiple crises and structural challenges. In this context, agroecology is emerging as a strategic lever for supporting endogenous development, based on local knowledge, food sovereignty and the sustainability of ecosystems.
How are you and AJEEC working to promote agroecology?
We systematically integrate agroecology in our projects. We are currently developing urban agroecology. For over a year, through the PASS_Agroécology initiative, we have been setting up a demonstration site in Niamey where we provide free training every week to citizens and stakeholders committed to the ecological transition.
To date, we have :
- Trained over 1,000 people in agroecological gardening practices, waste processing, biopesticide production, tree planting and maintenance, etc.
- Produced over 700 kg of vegetables,
- Recovered more than a tonne of waste through composting.
- A number of entrepreneurial and associative initiatives have also emerged from these training courses.
How do you see the future of agroecology in your country?
Today, I can see a real momentum building in both rural and urban areas. A solid base of commitment is being consolidated, supported by a wide range of players: associations, agricultural producers, and even some political decision-makers.
I firmly believe in an agroecology that is citizen-based, committed and transformative, both in traditional farming and in social and ecological entrepreneurship. In my view, this collective mobilisation is the key to building sustainable, resilient food systems that are deeply rooted in local realities.
But above all I believe in urban agroecology. It’s an angle that is still too little explored in our countries, even though it abounds in innovative practices and concrete opportunities. Even if this movement is still in its infancy, I am convinced that it is urban agroecology, close to the centres of political decision-making, that will ultimately drive the scaling up of agroecological solutions to rural areas.
There are still major challenges to be met if we are to raise public awareness more effectively and transform public policy. We need to work hand in hand with scientists to ensure that their research is aligned with the needs of those working on the ground, and that we have the data we need to strengthen our actions and convince our decision-makers.
*The Youth Association for Environment and Civic Education (AJEEC) is an organisation run by young people in Niger who are committed to protecting the environment and raising public awareness. Its work focuses on the sustainable management of natural resources, waste management, the promotion of women’s rights, the economic empowerment of communities and, for over a year now, the development of urban agroecology through the Pass_Agroecology initiative.
**The Social and Solidarity Economy Factory is an incubator of the Makera Institute, which supports associations, cooperatives and social entrepreneurs in improving their economic performance in the service of social and environmental impact.
To find out more, click here:
The interview with Ismael Allahi BIZO at the UNCCD COP15 on the challenges of desertification in Niger, and the solutions promoted by young people (ODD TV)
