{"id":8964,"date":"2025-02-17T11:09:52","date_gmt":"2025-02-17T11:09:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cordaid.org\/en\/?p=8964"},"modified":"2025-10-20T12:04:01","modified_gmt":"2025-10-20T12:04:01","slug":"win-win-women-in-burkina-faso-combine-horticulture-and-fish-farming","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cordaid.org\/en\/news\/win-win-women-in-burkina-faso-combine-horticulture-and-fish-farming\/","title":{"rendered":"Win-Win: Women in Burkina Faso Combine Horticulture and Fish Farming"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Hundreds of women in Burkina Faso (West Africa) are making an impact by reusing fish farming water to grow vegetables and fruit. This benefits the climate and increases their income. It even helps to reduce gender inequality.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Lizeta Ouedraogo, one of the participants, now teaches other women how to combine fish farming with hydroponic (soil-free) crop cultivation. \u00a9 Cordaid \/ Amadou Keita<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

In Burkina Faso, as in many parts of the world, women are the backbone of society. Yet, despite their significant contributions, they are often not able to fully participate in the society they help sustain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As small-scale farmers, they play a crucial role in the fight against hunger. However, they often face significant barriers, such as a lack of financing and market access. Indeed, running a business is challenging, for women even more so than for men.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Small-Scale Farming, Big Impact<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Women play a crucial role in the small-scale farming sector in Burkina Faso, yet only a small minority (8%) own land. This is due to their exclusion from inheritance rights and the traditional practice of land ownership negotiations being a male-dominated affair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Terms like \u2018small-scale farming\u2019 or \u2018smallholder farmers\u2019 may suggest a minor role, but the reality is quite the opposite. In countries that are not heavily industrialised, like Burkina Faso, small-scale farming is the most common form of agriculture. This makes it a crucial sector, one that ensures food reaches the farthest corners of the country and provides income for the majority of the population. In the fight against hunger and food insecurity, smallholder farmers play a leading role.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Barriers for Female Entrepreneurs<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In addition to limited access to land, female entrepreneurs in agriculture face other challenges. They often juggle multiple responsibilities: farm work, caring for livestock, and household duties, including childcare and elder care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Access to financing is another major hurdle. Securing start-up capital or funding for business expansion is nearly impossible, as banks require collateral that women often cannot provide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

An economy that places such barriers in front of women is not only unjust but also wastes immense potential.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Responding to the Market and Climate Change<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Cordaid\u2019s efforts to create fairer and more climate-resilient food systems and value chains put a strong focus on empowering women and young people (another structurally disadvantaged group).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the 20 locations where we do this is in the Hauts-Bassins and Plateau Central regions of Burkina Faso. A team of fewer than ten professionals\u2014including agronomists, fish farming experts, and financial management trainers\u2014supports and trains about 1,400 female horticulturists in expanding their businesses in an innovative and environmentally conscious way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Issaka Tingri, who coordinates the project, explains: \u2018Horticulture is seasonal, making income unpredictable for part of the year. Additionally, climate change has led to erratic rainfall, making agricultural work even more difficult. Female entrepreneurs can achieve multiple benefits by linking horticulture with fish farming. Demand for fish, especially catfish, is high year-round, providing a steady income. Moreover, the water from fish ponds, which must be refreshed regularly, is rich in nutrients and ideal for irrigating vegetable gardens. This improves crop yields.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Cordaid team supports these women in setting up their fish farms through group training, subsidies for materials, and one-on-one guidance. This assistance covers all process stages, from pond construction and purchasing quality feed to breeding, preserving, storing, and marketing the fish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With the processing and preservation equipment they can acquire through the project, participants can distinguish themselves in the market with high-quality fish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Watch this video (French) and discover how fish farming is becoming a lever of hope and growth in four regions of Burkina Faso.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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