Find out how Humundi (formerly SOS Faim) is supporting family farming in Burkina Faso to combat poverty and food insecurity.
Our work in
The context
In Burkina Faso, agriculture employs 90% of the population but contributes only around a third of the country’s GDP. These figures show the poor performance of farming, the main cause of poverty in rural areas.
In the Sahelian north, extensive livestock farming and short-cycle food crops dominate, with harvests that vary greatly from one year to the next depending on rainfall conditions. During the long dry season, farmers are out of work: many migrate temporarily to the towns or to coastal countries in search of odd jobs. Farmers generally do not harvest enough cereals to feed their families all year round, so they have to earn money to buy additional cereals and cover other basic needs.
In the more fertile and better-watered south of the country, farmers can grow a wider range of crops, with higher yields. The sale of surpluses and cash crops (cotton, sesame, etc.) enables them to cover their cash requirements. However, obtaining good selling prices for their products remains very difficult for most producers.
Generally speaking, family farming suffers from a lack of support and a lack of access to finance.
Humundi’s work IN Burkina Faso
Since the early 1980s, Humundi (formerly SOS Faim) has been supporting family farming in Burkina Faso to combat poverty and food insecurity in rural areas. We work with local organizations that support, in particular:
- the promotion of agro-ecological techniques to improve traditional food production;
- the development of market gardening in the dry season as an additional source of income;
- setting up group marketing systems to give producers access to profitable markets.
Humundi also supports the development of a vast network of food security granaries. These granaries are community shops that buy, store and sell cereals and basic food products, enabling the inhabitants of isolated villages to buy food at low prices.
Finally, SOS Faim supports a microfinance institution, facilitating access in particular for agricultural producers to savings and credit services tailored to their needs.
Key figures in Burkina Faso – 2023
11
Partners
6
Farmers’ organizations
1
Rural finance institution
4
Local NGOs
157 974
Beneficiaries
946 K€
Invested
Our countries
of action
We work in nine countries in Europe, Africa and Latin America to promote sustainable food systems. Working closely with local partners, we provide support tailored to each context to generate a positive impact.
