Increasing confidence amongst farmer in Benin

Monday, April 26, 2010

In Benin, several groups of farmers receive training. Not in some sports discipline, but in empowerment. They learn for example about a farmer’s rights and obligations; the basics of democracy and they are taught how to design a plan of action, in order for them to better defend their rights. Six groups of approximately twenty farmers are enrolled in this training of two days each month. Talking to a group of pineapple producers, who have been following the course for almost two years, it turns out that thus far they have already learned a lot.

The group evokes three situations that prove they now stick up for their rights, thanks to their advanced knowledge of the rights and obligations they have as a farmer. For example ‘CECPA’, an agricultural organisation provides fertiliser on credit. One of the farmers tells us how at first he was denied this. But because of the training he knew for a fact that he was entitled to this service. He therefore went back to CECPA and insisted on his right to receive the fertilizer, which he then obtained. 

Another example is the use of the forest adjacent to the village. This used to be freely accessible for the villagers, being a public place. At some point however, the forest became the property of a big landowner. The villagers, led by the group of farmers lobbied with the local authorities to reclaim the forest as a public good. Currently, the woods are opened again for use by the villagers and the women are allowed to gather wood for personal use as well as for selling it on the local market. The village well is subject of a similar story.  

Not only are the farmers more aware of how to defend their rights; also the women have gained much influence. They now participate in discussions, both within and outside of the group. During the workshops, the trainers use participatory methods. For instance, the group during a session sometimes breaks into small groups to work on an assignment which subsequently they present to the group as a whole. At the start of the project, the women were hesitant to share their opinion with the group. Then the participants collectively decided to install the rule for women to be the first to respond to the presentations. A woman enthusiastically explains how this encouraged her to start participating in conversations and group discussions. Not only within the group, but also more generally in the village community she is increasingly confident to actively participate in discussions.