Ouagadougou: Internally displaced women from Barga have found a sustainable and profitable activity in Windiga, Ouahigouya: the production of organic compost. Long used on a small scale in their gardens, this technique has become, thanks to the support of partners, a real source of income and a model of socio-economic integration, argues Wendpenga Oscar Kinda in his master's thesis in management science.
According to Burkina Information Agency, in Barga, the women made compost for their own vegetable gardening needs. But once resettled in Windiga, they discovered that this practice could help them overcome their vulnerability. 'They understood that organic composting could become an income-generating activity. That is why they set up a production site with equipment, thanks to the support of partners,' explains Wendpenga Oscar Kinda, in his master's thesis in management science.
Mr. Kinda defended his final year thesis on Monday in Ouagadougou, at the Training and Research Unit in Economic Science and Management, under the theme: "Effects of organic compost production on the living conditions of internally displaced women, refugees, and women from host communities in Ouahigouya: Case of ADDFY".
The Association for the Sustainable Development of Internally Displaced, Refugee, and Host Women of Yatenga (ADDFY) comprises 110 women, organized around a 45-day production cycle. A bag of compost sells for 7,500 CFA francs, providing each member with a regular income. The study reveals that a woman can save up to 16,000 CFA francs per cycle, significantly improving her living conditions.
According to the researcher, the impacts are numerous: children's education, meeting basic needs, financial independence, and improved social status for women. "Their situation as displaced persons is now a thing of the past," the researcher explains, adding that organic compost improves agricultural yields while preserving the environment, unlike chemical fertilizers that degrade the soil.
With the agro-pastoral offensive initiated by the authorities and the reconquest of several localities, he believes that "the production of organic compost, if implemented on a large scale, can help stabilize the market, strengthen agroecology and increase food security".
The study recommends supporting women through training, the establishment of processing units, marketing, and stabilizing the price of compost to prevent speculation. It also advocates facilitating product distribution through the creation of local partnerships.
"Organic compost production is a model of sustainable development. It must be supported to allow women not only to live with dignity but also to contribute to environmental protection," the researcher concludes.
The jury judged his work to be relevant, useful, current, sensitive, and aligned with his training profile. They awarded him a grade of 16/20.