Cultivo de hortalizas sin suelo: Burkina Faso

What is soilless farming?

Soilless farming is an innovative way of growing crops—mainly vegetables—without using soil. Instead, plants are grown in bags or troughs filled with a simple substrate, such as clay, that provides a supporting structure for the crops to flourish. The nutrients they require come from a natural liquid fertiliser, which is applied at key stages of growth.

By utilising greenhouses and drip irrigation, this method is climate-resilient and allows crops to be grown all year round. It also doesn’t require fertile land, making it ideal for urban areas where space for farming is limited. Importantly, soilless farming can produce up to three times more food than traditional farming methods.

Our work in Burkina Faso (2022 – 2025)

In Burkina Faso, soilless farming has provided an opportunity for women residing in the semi-urban communities around the major city of Bobo-Dioulasso to engage in vegetable farming. This innovative approach has enabled them to cultivate organic vegetables for sale in the local market and for consumption at home.

EVALUACIÓN DEL IMPACTO

Financiado por la Comisión de Ayuda y Desarrollo de Ultramar de Guernsey, este proyecto estableció dos invernaderos con una superficie combinada de 400 m², apoyando a 200 mujeres. Cada uno de los invernaderos ha sido equipado con un sistema de riego por goteo alimentado por energía solar, conectado a un pozo y un reservorio de agua. Además de ofrecer una fuente de agua sostenible para las granjas, este pozo también abordó una antigua necesidad   en la comunidad local, que antes carecía de acceso constante al agua.

Groupe d’Action des Femmes pour la Relance Economique du Houet (GAFREH) es una organización dirigida por mujeres con sede en Bobo-Dioulasso que apoya el empoderamiento económico de  más de 6.000 mujeres  . GAFREH estima que entre 100 y 150 hogares se han beneficiado de esta fuente de agua, con cada hogar pagando una tarifa social nominal de 250 XOF (£0.32) por 200 litros; esta tarifa es la mitad del precio  cobrado por el gobierno. Los ingresos de la venta de agua se utilizan para pagar el salario de un guardia de seguridad para los invernaderos y también para el mantenimiento del pozo.

Zeynab Ouedrago, Oficial de Proyecto en GAFREH, comentó:

"El proyecto ha dado visibilidad a GAFREH tanto a nivel local como nacional. El Gobierno Central, a través del Ministerio de Acción Social, ha solicitado la ayuda de   GAFREH  a capacitar a las personas desplazadas internamente y a otros grupos vulnerables  para que se puedan dedicar a la agricultura sin suelo".

DE LA SEMILLA AL PUESTO: AUMENTANDO LA AUTOSUFICIENCIA A TRAVÉS DE LA AGRICULTURA DE SIN SUELO (EXTENSIÓN DEL PROYECTO)

Gracias al financiamiento de la Fundación Evan Cornish, extendimos nuestro apoyo a 30 mujeres  más, permitiéndoles establecer jardines de vegetales sin suelo en sus hogares. Después de la capacitación, a cada participante se le proporcionó un kit de producción que incluía herramientas, equipos e insumos, equipándolas para crear jardines sin suelo en casa.

Desde la capacitación, algunas mujeres han tomado la iniciativa de establecer invernaderos  fabricados localmente para brindar protección adicional a sus cultivos. En estos jardines de vegetales expandidos, están cultivando una variedad de vegetales, incluidos tomates, lechugas, pepinos, pimientos y berenjenas.

Project Three: 2024 to 2025

This 13 month project, funded by the EA Foundation,  aimed to reduce the poverty levels of 75 economically vulnerable women with disabilities in Burkina Faso through establishing a sustainable, organic vegetable production enterprise. This farming method is ideal for people with physical disabilities since technology integration makes it less labour-intensive than conventional farming

The project was delivered in partnership with Platforme Nationale du Commerce Equitable Burkina Faso (PNCE-B), Association Fraternité des Personnes Handicapées Physique de Bobo (AFPHPB) and Groupe d’Action des Femmes pour la Relance Economique du Houet (GAFREH).

Project Impacts

At the start of the project, only five women were familiar with the concept of soilless farming, the remaining 70 women had no experience in using these techniques. During the end evaluation, all women reported they have the skills in soilless vegetable production to continue producing beyond this project. 69 women reported they were very satisfied with the quality of their production and all think this enterprise will provide them with a sustainable source of income.

Mariam Traore, project participant, said:

“This project has unified us even more than ever and it is fulfilling to see us working together to grow organic vegetables to sell to the public. It has given us the opportunity to prove that despite our disability, we can also work to support ourselves and our families. 

"At the greenhouse we feel at home, we are like a big family. I am very satisfied with the quality of the vegetables produced. Our products looked even better than what is typically found on the market."

Vegetable production and sales 

• Volume of vegetables harvested: 5,171kg
• Volume of vegetables sold: 4,870kg
• Value of sales: £3,521
• Buyers: 62 (including 55 individuals, 5 wholesalers and 2 restaurants)

Learn more about Soilless Farming

In March 2023, Shared Interest Foundation hosted an online event with special guest Issaka Sommandé, founding member and current President of PNCE-B. Joining Issaka was Dr. Salifou Ouédraogo, Head of the Institute of Rural Development at Nazi Boni University in Bobo-Dioulasso and Chair of Greening Africa Together, a network of universities, NGO’s and institutions collaborating to empower and enable African youth to fight climate change.

During the event, Kodzo Korkortsi, Shared Interest Foundation Manager, explored the innovative soilless farming project alongside fellow guest speakers, with many Shared Interest Foundation supporters joining us virtually. Following the presentations, hosts participated in an open question-and-answer session with event attendees. 

You can watch the event recording below.

Support our work

We hope you enjoyed learning about this Shared Interest Foundation project.

Since 2004, thanks to our incredible supporters, Shared Interest Foundation has delivered 51 projects in 15 countries, reaching over 13,000 farmers and artisans. 

Support the Foundation's work today and help to build a fairer world for the future.

If you have any questions about this project, please feel free to speak with a member of the Foundation team via email here