Thanks to the sustlives project, the Watinoma women’s group, specialized in the production of organic vegetables, has added 5 new crops to its production catalog. In this interview, the group’s president, Rihanata Bilgo, presents the new crop varieties and the advantages of the new techniques acquired thanks to researchers from Joseph-Ki-Zerbo University. She attests that the project has made it possible to vary the diet of the families of the 30 members of the group, in addition to increasing their income.
Sidwaya (S): How did you hear about the sustlives project?
Rihanata Bilgo (R.B.) : It was through the leaders of the Watinoma association that we heard about the Sustlives project. We had a small number of crops. Before the project, we produced onions, tomatoes with great difficulty and a little sorrel and amaranth. This project was a great opportunity to diversify our production and therefore improve our profits. Thanks to the project, we started to produce amaranth in large quantities, sweet potatoes, bissap, moringa and ground peas. The collaboration with the researchers allowed us to increase our yields and thus earn more money. Where we had 500 CFA francs by selling our leaves, it is now 5,000 CFA francs that
we win. We are very grateful for everything we have learned.
Q: What activities did you carry out as part of this project?
R.B : We have received training on new production techniques. Before, to produce amaranth for example, we simply threw away seeds and then transplanted the young shoots. Scientists taught us to let the shoots grow well before transplanting them. This technique improves the success rate. We also learned about the health benefits of amaranth leaves. They help fight constipation and are appreciated by those who have lost their appetite following malaria for example. For our part, we have raised awareness and more and more people are consuming amaranth leaves. By doing the same speculation, yields were decreasing, but thanks to the advice, we are rotating crops. That is to say, after harvesting amaranth, we put onion or potato, this improves yields. We now harvest 10 bags of leaves whereas before, it was just 1 or 2 bags. We used to grow sorrel, but I admit that we didn’t have the right technique. Thanks to the project, we now produce bissap (Guinea sorrel). In order to improve yields, we sow the seeds as if they were corn and cultivate the plot. Space is needed between the plants to allow them to develop properly. You know, bissap has several virtues. In case of anemia in children, if you give them bissap infusions to drink regularly, it helps to reduce the anemia. For sweet potatoes, we learned to make mounds. This allows moisture to be retained and the tubers to be larger. Not only do we sell the leaves, but at the end, we harvest the tubers. This makes our children happy, who are always happy to have something new on the menu. Potato leaves are effective against anemia. The tubers relieve contractions in new mothers. The moringa trees that the project introduced into our garden also allow us to vary the menu. Simply boil them and then add a little flour on top to obtain a delicious couscous.
If we add moringa leaves to the preparation of fatty rice, it is
very good, not to mention that they are nutritious for young children.
Q: How is the collaboration with the university researchers going?
R.B : We are grateful to them because they taught us new techniques. We never stop learning and this project has proven that this adage is true. Thanks to the new knowledge that we have put into practice, other producers in the area come to our school. It is with great pride that we share with them what we have learned in the framework of the Sustlives project. Everything they have taught us is useful to us. We were the only ones producing amaranth leaves in the Koubri area, but if you take a tour you will see them everywhere. All the others came to learn how to succeed with us. In addition, we have increased our production capacities. We earn more money and we are sure to eat healthy.
Q: What are your suggestions for improving the functioning of the project?
R.B : All our expectations have been met. We have multiplied our earnings by 10. If you could not have 500 CFA francs and you can have
5,000 CFA francs, you can only be grateful. Thanks to the sharing of our knowledge, the production of amaranth has become widespread here in Koubri. We can never thank them enough. As appetite comes with eating, we would like to benefit from new varieties of seeds.
Interview by Nadège YE