As part of the “Programme d’actions structurées des acteurs de la Lutte contre la Désertification” (PASS-LCD), CARI and its partners wish to highlight the women and men working daily to promote agroecology in the Sahel. These spokespersons for agroecology carry out advocacy work at different levels (national, regional, local) and work with local populations to encourage the emergence of agroecological practices and demonstrate their relevance in the fight against desertification.
Discover the first portraits of the Spokespeople for Agroecology, produced during the Regional Meeting on Agroecological Intensification held in Senegal from 11 to 13 September 2024.
Souleymane Ousmane, member of the first collective of organic producers in Niger
Souleymane Ousmane describes himself first and foremost as a Nigerian organic farmer. He is a member of the first collective of organic producers in Niger: the Groupement d’Intérêt Économique Bio Bon Beau (GIE 3B).
A firm believer in agro-ecology as a principle of life, he is also a referent on the subject within the Network of Chambers of Agriculture (RECA-Niger).
Souleymane Ousmane trained as an agronomist and works to support farmers. He quickly realised that he needed to combine theory and practice to gain a better understanding of the issues faced by farmers. This led him to become a farmer himself.
He came into contact with all aspects of agroecology through the ACOTAF project (Strengthening Farm Advisory Services to Support Agroecological Transitions in Family Farming in Sub-Saharan Africa), for which he was the focal point in Niger.
When asked what the levers are for ensuring an agro-ecological transition in production systems on a wider scale, Souleymane OUSMANE tells us that the most important thing is to make producers aware of what we want to achieve with agro-ecology. We need to encourage them to explore other solutions to the constraints they face. This aspect is essential alongside the work being done by the RECA to produce technical references on agroecological solutions linked to the challenges of the different production systems found in Niger.
According to Souleymane OUSMANE, thinking about the agro-ecological transition requires us to ask ourselves new questions: what lessons can we learn from initiatives that have not worked (such as the large-scale distribution of farmers’ seeds)? In terms of labour, does it make sense to move towards agro-ecology without appropriate mechanisation? In the Niger context, how realistic is it to want to do without 100% synthetic fertilisers, when the availability of organic matter is insufficient?
While food security is a real issue in Niger, agro-ecological intensification needs to be considered on the ground, and needs to be informed by real constraints, rather than being confined to an idealistic vision.
« Within the RECA, our work on agroecology has enabled us to change our perception and our way of observing the players in the field.
In addition, there is no shortage of potential research projects: on the availability of production inputs (bio-products), on market garden seeds (which are currently almost all imported), on natural treatment products…”.
“You have to be a bit human to do agroecology. A focus group, a discussion, a field visit can be just as informative as weeks of scientific or technical research”.
Souleymane OUSMANE contributed several articles to No. 85 of the Revue Grain de Sel published in 2023 by Inter-réseaux Développement rural and dedicated to the agro-ecological transition:
