Starting an organic pilot project in Senegal - a farmers' workshop

Ibrahim N'Dow, one of the farmers participating in the organic pilot project.

In early 1994, two farmers travelled to Dakar, the capital of Senegal, to seek advice on behalf of their village, Koussenar,  and to look at the possibilities of converting to organic cotton production. The removal of subsidies and subsequent devaluation had driven pesticide prices up from £1 a litre to £3.70 a litre.   Costs were becoming too high for small farmers with average land holdings of less than 2 ha  and  a  quarter of that under cotton.
    Under the state-controlled cotton organisation, Sodefitex, farmers  receive inputs and credit, and are paid at the end of the season.  Sodefitex also provides rural infrastructure, including some health and education services. State-controlled cotton organisations can set prices to farmers which often do not relate to the world market price.  
    In Dakar, the farmers visited Abou Thiam at ENDA-PRONAT, a Pesticides Action Network (PAN) participant, which has worked closely with the Pesticides Trust [now PAN UK]. Some funds were already in place for an organic cotton project aimed at supporting farmers interested in organic conversion.  The project had been developed with support from donors and an organic systems consultant, Tadeu Caldas, who made the first feasibility visit to Senegal in August 1994.  The first farmers' workshop was scheduled for March 1995.
    The three-day workshop took place in Koussenar, a village about 400 km due west of Dakar. About 70 farmers from the village and neighbourhood attended. The purpose was to listen to farmers' experience and problems with the present system of cotton production and to introduce the ideas and techniques of organic production before embarking on more detailed work with a smaller group of farmers in a pilot project in the 1995 growing season. ENDA has developed links with Sodefitex and the agricultural research institute, ISRA, and representatives of both attended the workshop.
    Dividing into village-based groups, farmers spent a day discussing cotton production. The most common problems related to marketing the crop and the costs and negative effects of inputs, especially pesticides. Many aspects of the marketing structures were roundly criticised. Prices paid are too low, given the rising costs of inputs, and there are unpredictable changes between the beginning and end of the season. Payments are often very late, creating problems for family finances. The grading, and hence the payment system, is regarded as often unfair, as is the system of penalising a whole group of farmers when one member of the group defaults on repayment. There is no compensation in the event of a natural disaster such as a drought.
    Issues surrounding the high cost, poor quality, late delivery and serious effects of the use of inputs were discussed in considerable detail. Recent changes arising from structural adjustment policies and devaluation have meant huge increases in the costs of inputs which have not been compensated by increased prices paid to farmers. The general level of awareness of the dangers of pesticides to people and stock was high and fertilisers were also regarded as problematical. Farmers felt that the level of support is often inadequate and information provided is not as relevant as it might be. The problems have reached a level where many farmers are ready to abandon cotton production under the present system.
    "The overall objectives of the pilot conversion project are to reduce the use of inputs, to improve revenue to farmers and to create a situation of self-sufficiency," said Abou Thiam, after summarising the farmers' discussions. Tadeu Caldas outlined the general approach to organic conversion, and techniques for fertilisation and controlling pests.
    Farmers were enthusiastic about trying an alternative production system which may provide a better return, but did not under-estimate the difficulties in moving to organic production. At a practical level, they were concerned about fertilisation, feeling it may be difficult to find enough manure, particularly for those without stock. It was proposed that a system of 'parking' animals and collecting the manure could start immediately for the coming season. In future, other strategies available would include liquid fertiliser made from manure and water, and green manuring.

A small group discussion at the farmer's workshop

Some local experience
Two local farmers who experimented in 1994 by growing cotton without chemical inputs shared their experience with participants. Mamadou Camara from Katop village has been growing cotton since 1968. "We have gained much from Sodefitex rural services, especially the adult literacy programmes", he said-underlining the importance that the project will attach to keeping Sodefitex informed. "But we are very aware of the dangers of pesticides and we are interested in trying the organic system." On 0.25 ha, Mamadou  had produced 102 kg of organic seed cotton (a yield of 400 kg/ha.). He has access to 5 ha and would like to grow all his cotton organically, if enough manure is available. In the coming season, he will probably plant 1.5 or 2.0 ha of organic cotton.

The next step
An agronomist and extension worker have now been appointed to work in Koussenar .  The project developed criteria to select participants and has identified the first 50 farmers, who will plant an area of about 20 ha for the 1995 season. Tadeu Caldas will visit during the growing season to help with training, pest management, quality control, and advice to improve yields. The local research centre of ISRA has agreed to conduct trials on organic cotton. There are plans for an evaluation exercise at the end of the current season in March 1996.
    Most of the farmers involved are men. A group of women who attended one session of the workshop said they would  be interested in growing cotton, but were occupied with vegetable production. They were concerned with the level of pesticides used locally. 

Marketing and payments
The Swiss company, RemeiAG has agreed to buy all output to support the project, and help farmers build up to significant quantities of organic production. The central issue in marketing is the level of premium paid to farmers over the price paid for conventional production. This was set at 30%-high enough to compensate farmers for yield losses and low enough to allow for a fund to be created out of the difference between the buying price to farmers and the selling price on the international market. The fund  will be used to recoup start-up costs, fund the organic certification process, and provide other services to be agreed by a committee on which the farmers interests will be represented. The objective is to make the project self-sufficient within three years. (DM)

[This article first appeared in Pesticides News No. 28, June 1995, pages 16]