Soilless Vegetable Farming: 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.

Project One: 2022 to 2023

Funded by Guernsey Overseas Aid & Development Commission, this project established two greenhouses with a combined area of 400m², supporting 200 women. Each of the greenhouses has been equipped with a solar-powered drip irrigation system, connected to a borehole and water reservoir. Besides offering a sustainable water source for the farms, this borehole also addressed a longstanding need in the local community, which previously lacked consistent access to water.

Groupe d’Action des Femmes pour la Relance Economique du Houet (GAFREH), is a women-led organisation based in Bobo-Dioulasso which supports over 6,000 women to become economically empowered.

GAFREH estimates that between 100 and 150 households have benefitted from this water source, with each household paying a nominal social fee of 250 XOF (£0.32) per 200 litres – this rate is half the price charged by the government. The income from the sale of water is being used to pay the salary of a security guard for the greenhouses and also support borehole maintenance.

Zeynab Ouedrago, Project Officer at GAFREH commented:

“The project has given visibility to GAFREH both locally and nationally. The Central Government, through the Minister of Social Action, has requested GAFREH to help train internally displaced persons and other vulnerable groups to go into soilless farming."

Project Two: 2022 to 2023

Through funding from Evan Cornish Foundation, we extended our support to an additional 30 women, enabling them to establish soilless vegetable gardens at their homes. Following the training, each participant was provided with a production kit comprising tools, equipment and inputs, equipping them to create soilless gardens at home.

Since the training, some women have taken the initiative to establish locally made greenhouses to provide additional protection to their crops. In these expanded vegetable gardens, they are cultivating a diverse range of vegetables, including tomatoes, lettuce, cucumbers, peppers and aubergines.

Our baseline data told us that at the start of the project, none of the 30 participants consumed organic produce due to its high cost and limited availability. At the end of the project, all the participants are now consuming the organic vegetables they produced on their farm at home.

You can learn more about the impacts of this project in our blog.

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