Introducing ducks in rice cultures
Senegal – Casamance, Ziguinchor and Bignona
March 2016 – april 2019
Afrique en Vie and AGADA
10 members of the local partner trained to agroecology and on follow up and 6 “head farmers” trained by the local partner that will then spread their knowledge to 90 farmers.
Core of the project
Damaged soils and lack of structure
Since the drought during the 70s the agricultural sector in Ziguinchor is faced with many constraints: the land is damaged by salt and erosion, farming yields are insufficient to allow an additional income and food diversity is low. Difficulties are also noted on the organizational level with no order among producers and a lack of organization and communication from the storage stage to the marketing stage.
Agroecology to restore soils and prospects of incomes
The project aims at promoting and training populations to agroecological techniques to revive rice farming and arable lands. These trainings will be do achieved through a transfer of knowledge and techniques such as implementing off-season farming to fight salt invasion on lands, producing and storing seeds to allow autonomy and preserve biodiversity, reinforcing women’s management and ecology skills and knowledge.
Integrating ducks in rice-fields
Following the example of Bernard Poujol, French rice producer, the project is testing an innovative technique: integrating ducks in rice fields. This offers many advantages such as the removal of chemical inputs as ducks clean the rice fields by eating weeds and insects. Ducks also allow additional revenues to producers when they are sold at the end of the season.
Training
To train farmers to more productive and sustainable agroecological practices; it will take place on a training field (dedicated to learning and exchanges) with sessions on how to introduce ducks in rice fields during the rainy season and new farming techniques for the dry season such as associated cultures.
Structure
To organize the farmer movement in cooperatives through trainings on how to manage storing centers, cooperatives and rice transformation entities.
Commercialization
To organize sells in rural areas by storing productions, transforming products, etc.
Expected benefits
80% of producers use at least 3 defense and restoration techniques on their land by 2019
95% of households increase their income by 30%
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