Family Futures

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In its second phase (2014-2019), the project will pursue

a two-pronged approach to target both women’s groups and

innovative individual farmers for business development,

encouraging their adhesion to the Fouta Djallon Farmer

Federation. Activities will include diversification of agricultural

production by introducing innovative techniques and crops,

the promotion of pest-proof storage bins, and training in inte-

grated pest management and improved processing techniques.

In connection with the increased vegetable production

of women’s groups, it was observed that the simultane-

ous influx on local markets of unprecedented amounts of

perishable products and the lack of access to wider market

networks is likely to occasion severe seasonal price drops.

Gross-buyers from Conakry dictating daily market prices,

combined with the lack of negotiation power of sellers,

result in little income and can even make groups incur losses

after the hard work in the fields.

In order to reverse this undesired effect and to provide

farmers with more economically viable alternatives, the project

plans to test and promote sustainable conservation and trans-

formation techniques for surplus agricultural production,

and to develop capacities for an increased level of organiza-

tion of women’s groups and for business development. High

attention will be paid to the labelling of high-value processed

products from organic agriculture, grafted fruit trees and

native tree species (such as Shea butter and Néré), and to

developing market networks and inclusive value chains. The

linkages between nutrition and health will be demonstrated,

for instance by testing local production of groundnut oil to

replace the use of imported and less healthy palm oil.

Governance and land tenure issues will also be looked at. Men

tend to occupy managerial positions even in women’s groups

– including presidency, secretariat and bookkeeping – with a

resulting imbalance in decision-making and power distribution

that the project will have to address. Land is normally borrowed

by groups from the wealthiest families based on 10-year written

agreements. Given that the project is investing in this land also

in terms of irrigation infrastructure, agricultural facilities and

equipment, access issues will have to be carefully monitored

and eventually rectified in the coming years.

The strength of the interest-group approach presented here

lies in its potential to reach a higher number of people for

training purposes and to trigger a farmer-to-farmer process

of knowledge transfer. It plays for long-term sustainability, as

it builds on motivation, interest and commitment expressed

by local actors who join forces to pursue common objectives.

Notwithstanding, past experiences show that innovation and

entrepreneurial skills are equally important in order to iden-

tify market niches, diversify groups’ activities and develop

cost/profit positive ventures. This highlights the need for

leadership considerations and to empower women to take

on decision-making responsibilities as well as to increase

their negotiation capacity especially in market contexts. The

current project executed by FAO, as well as similar initiatives

active in the region, are expected to harvest more tangible

results if they embark on a strengthened collaboration with

women’s interest groups.

Family farmers around the world face a number of challenges,

from lack of access to services andmarkets to unfavourable policy

environments. Group formation and collective action as depicted

in this case study go a long way in overcoming these impedi-

ments. The gender gap in agriculture has enormous implications

for family cohesion, agricultural productivity and income levels.

The FDH Integrated Natural Resources Management project

executed by FAO seeks to overcome these challenges. From

compost preparation to improved techniques, storage, process-

ing and marketing – the project is enabling family farmers to

succeed, with women’s interest groups leading the way.

Traditional forms of women’s mutual assistance

Several forms of mutual assistance exist among Fula women. The

most widespread is the Kilé that can be called upon by one of the

household head’s wives at the beginning of the rainy season when

the most demanding tasks in the agricultural cycle are due.

The Kilé confers on women the right and privilege to spell out a collective

invitation to the entire village, normally to work on steep slopes. Farmers

go with their own tools to the field of the convener, who offers a copious

midday rice and meat lunch, accompanied by traditional cola nuts.

However, this particular arrangement is rather costly and, therefore,

restricted to the social class that has the means to organize it. A reduced

version of Kilé is called Kilé Futu and is convened by old women who

periodically gather their young nephews and nieces to help out.

Other forms of mutual assistance include the Ballal, which appeals

to family solidarity based on the principle of reciprocity, for instance

all the women living in the same concession work together. There is

also the Yirdè, associations of youth of the same age who provide

assistance in exchange for meals or small compensations. Under the

arrangement of the Tontine, women periodically take up a collection

of money that, in turn, is given to each of them according to needs.

Remunerated work, which replaces slave work, can also be a solution

for those who have the means to hire daily labourers.

More recently, household-leading women who are not able to rely on

sufficient economic resources started coping with the situation by joining

forces and reciprocally assisting each other in heavy agricultural tasks.

Cochineals affecting cabbage plants in the women’s market garden

of Gaggal, Bantignel

Image: P. Ceci