Farmers know their soil

In Senegal, UPA-DI has supported a pilot project ‘Les Savoirs des Gens de la Terre’, for about 80 farmers within one federation (Fédération des périmètres autogérés, FPA) and one farmers’ union (Union des groupements paysans de Méchke, UGPM). The awareness and confidence of farmers and their dynamics and motivation have improved. An external evaluation warns for one sided focus on farm leaders and pleads for strengthening further the links with the membership base.

“The objectives of the project are situated on the level of the farmers (better farm management, planning, analysis and improved technical competence, including traditional knowledge) and on the level of the farmer organisations (technical contribution to development of farmer organisations, support for better assessment of farmers’ needs and to democratic management of local groups). The members witness several type of changes which they summarize as: ’managing better our present situation in order to better control the future, rather than living the present without future vision’. They are more aware of their rights and consider themselves as full participants in society. The project also contributed to intensified links between local farmer groups. The leaders of the local organisations discuss agriculture policy now ‘under the tree’, even complicated matters (the role of government, food sovereignty, equity principles etc.). At the same time an external evaluation warns for too much focus on strengthening of leaders of producer organisations as they might become disconnected of the membership basis. The evaluation concludes that the local farmer groups have matured and are more aware of the value of collective action but also states that the need for transparency and communication to their constituents deserves more attention.”