The ‘Hope of Koussanar’   

Founded in 1994, the Koussanar organic cotton project is the smallest in Africa – in cotton production terms. However, it appears to be a runaway success in other ways. Simon Ferrigno reports on recent encouraging developments and changes in farming families’ lives.

1. Preparing the land 2. Farmers discussing their crop in the field  3. Growing indigo for dying traditional clothing  4. Women grow rice for the family and to sell 5. Farmers meet to evaluate the seasons  production.  Photos: ENDAPronat

Koussanar organic cotton farmers involved in producer unions have now come together to form the ‘Hope of Koussanar’ association. The farmers have taken over day-to-day management and long-term planning of the project through an elected board of representatives. 
    The project now covers half the Tambacounda district in south central Senegal and includes 57 villages. While only 180 producers are growing certified organic cotton, there are now 800-1000 member farmers. As well as cotton, their farms now produce rice, vegetables, groundnut, fonio (a cereal much valued by rural and urban dwellers alike for special occasions) and other crops, all economically valued and profitable in the local market, and entirely organic. One Dakar based doctor is willing to drive nine hours to collect fresh organic produce from Koussanar. Some members of the group have branched out into manufacturing textiles from their organic cotton. The entire population of each village participates in organic production and activities such as cereal and seed banks. Members hold shares in all the activities such as rice cultivation.
    Koussanar has struggled to find outside markets so far, but in terms of food security, improved nutrition, improved skills and diversified sources of income, poverty reduction, empowerment of the local community, and of women in particular, this is a huge success story. It shows that when the local community ‘buys into’ the organic concept and relates it to local problems and needs, much can be achieved (see page 5).

New activities increase income
Women’s groups have been set up in several villages, to prioritise income-generating activities and investment geared to their needs. While issues such as lack of tools are a common problem with men, women prioritise different needs, from buying rice and millet (sometimes used in exchange for borrowing tools) or for their own personal requirements (clothing, savings) or for investing in mills to replace the time-consuming pounding of millet. This will increase the time available to undertake other income generating activities, as well as for farming and water collection. In the long term, women’s groups want to invest in health centres followed by improved education. Other priorities include purchase of donkeys to improve water collection from deep wells. 
    Spinning, weaving and making clothes for the local market have all been revived through the organic cotton project. A textile company with international contracts, based in Dakar, is running a trial with 800kgs of organic cotton, which will be partially spun and woven using adapted traditional looms (which have been widened to 180cms to meet international standards) and traditional dyes. 
    Overall, the farmers in the project feel that food security, and food safety have improved without chemical use. For example, farmers feel safe to eat in the fields again. The extension of horticulture has improved nutrition, especially for children. With cash income, families can buy other types of food such as rice and chicken. 
    The experience of the Koussanar project indicates that small investments can make a bigger difference to food security and nutritional improvement than large-scale projects. For as little as $7.50 per farmer the project can supply vegetable seeds for farmers to start horticulture production.
    Farmers are much less indebted than they used to be and this has, in turn, had profound effects on food security. Under the old system, farmers were often pressured into planting and harvesting cotton first, sometimes on far too large an area, in order to ensure sufficient income to pay back debt to the Senegalese cotton company (Sodefitex). Now, they can first ensure their food supplies by planting food crops at the right time, and then later they can plant cotton for earning extra cash. This also reduces land pressure and labour difficulties because now more land is held in reserve or rested; and still they are earning more. 
    The focus in the project is on improving yields, productivity, cultural techniques and profitability overall. Farmers have diversified, and indeed have plans to further diversify into fruit and trees. 

For further information on the Koussanar project contact: Dr Hama Garba, ENDAPronat Koussanar Project, Tel: +221 (537) 32 54, hamag67@hotmail.com, or Aissa Dionne Tissus, Parcelle 104B, ZI SODIDA, BP 5804, Dakar-Fann, Senegal, adt@sentoo.sn

[This article first appeared in Pesticides News No. 62, December 2003, page 7]