STUDY VISITS STRENGTHEN LOCAL FARMERS' ASSOCIATIONS

Since 2015, Andreas Hermes Akademie (AHA) has been working with ADECOD in Burkina Faso, an association for the sustainable development of rural communities. The aim of the project is to restructure and professionalize the association and to create additional capacity. The regions in the west and southwest of Burkina Faso, which are more humid and particularly suitable for the cultivation of fruit and vegetables, are given particular assistance. ADECOD focuses on funding projects and training for its 4,000 members

The national soccer team as a model

"We are trying to make farmers more professional and expand the cultivation of small plots which are currently being used only for the farmers' own needs, so that more people in Burkina Faso will be fed and so that farmers will earn a higher income." The 40-year-old agronomist is the chairman of ADECOD, in which various partners from the agricultural sector are represented: individual farmers and workers as well as smaller local groups.  

Kassoum Dembele knew Germany only by the German national soccer team, which he considers to be disciplined and results-oriented. He pointed out that German agriculture works similarly. "The farms will certainly be run more like businesses: modern and highly mechanized. The farmers' organization is surely well-structured and professional - the opposite of our organizations in Burkina Faso."

"Hopefully, long-term friendships will emerge from the contacts - after all, we must show solidarity internationally in the fight against instability in the food supply."

Andreas Hermes Akademie made it possible for Kassoum Dembele to make a one-week study visit to Germany in June of last year. On his first trip, he learned about useful mechanization concepts. He is focused on small and not overly expensive solutions which can be implemented by small producers in poor countries like Burkina Faso to help with their work. "Innovative irrigation techniques are of particular interest to us because in our country, in some regions, we face major problems due to water scarcity", explains Kassoum Dembele. But he also learned about methods of organizational development during the trip and wants to implement them at home. "I was also able to benefit from the other participants from Africa and India, as well as from the German hosts. Hopefully, long-term friendships will emerge from the contacts - after all, we must show solidarity internationally in the fight against instability in the food supply", says Kassoum Dembele. Burkina Faso is poor in means, but rich in ideas. Therefore, Dembele is confident that ADECOD and Andreas Hermes Akademie will find solutions for the challenges which they can share with local farmers.