Farming techniques are the focus of a week-long agro-ecological camp at the Niaguis agro-ecological center. It's part of the fourth edition of this activity organized by the pan-African movement "Nous sommes la solution" (Nss). By Khady SONKO -

An agro-ecological camp kicked off on Monday at the Niaguis agro-ecological center. This 4th edition, which will last a week, focuses on cultivation techniques in the field of horticulture. 65 participants, including leaders, technicians and animators from member associations of the pan-African movement "Nous sommes la solution" (Nss), from eight countries and fourteen associations, are taking part in the camp. The idea is to build participants' capacities in agro-ecological practices.

"Food sovereignty cannot be achieved without the promotion of agro-ecological practices based on our peasant knowledge and know-how", says the president of Nss. According to Mariama Sonko, "this is what will enable us to be autonomous and to value our traditional values in which we find our identity".

"If the State really wants food sovereignty, it must support us, because there are initiatives and associations working to promote agro-ecology. This practice will enable us to move towards financial, seed and environmental autonomy", pleaded Mrs Sonko. According to her, agro-ecology has long supported food sovereignty in Africa, unlike conventional agriculture, which "is based on substances that are harmful to our ecosystem. All this climate disruption is caused by conventional agricultural practices. We're told that this conventional agriculture is going to lift us out of poverty, but we're poorer than our ancestors who practiced agro-ecological agriculture, and we're sicker than they are", Mariama Sonko elaborated.

Returning to the theme of the fourth edition, the president of Nss believes that there is a cacophony of farming techniques to be corrected. "People don't master the cultivation techniques that can enable us to preserve our ecosystem and make our production profitable. It was time to share horticultural farming techniques with the stakeholders," Mariama Sonko stressed.

For the coordinator of the African Fund for Agroecology, which is a technical and financial partner of Nss, it's important to support initiatives like this movement, which put the finger on what's possible if we support agro-ecology initiatives. "We have the ambition, through our regional funds, to finance the members of the movement. You can't have a strong network if members' capacities aren't strengthened," said Tabara Ndiaye. She reaffirmed the African Fund for Agroecology's commitment to supporting initiatives like Nss, mobilizing resources and attracting other donors to the movement.

ksonko@lequotidien.sn