The use of the masculine gender has been adopted for ease of reading and has no discriminatory intent.
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From Tour Guide to Earth Guardian : A Young Beninese’s Green Bet
Author: Daniel Aboki, Eco-Bénin
Reading time: 5 minutes
As part of the initiative “Mangrove économie” promoted by Village Monde and its local partner Eco-Bénin
In Bopa’s village, in Southwest Benin, a few meters away from Possotomé, famous for its thermal water, a young man embodies the hope of the youth focused on the future. Djossa Ignace, about thirty, is the head of an ambitious project, profoundly rooted in sustainability moral : Possotomé’s eco-farm. A place where agriculture and economy work together and where every action benefits the Earth.
Nothing was predestining this tour guide, formed by Eco-Bénin to become a pillar of agroecology. During many years, Ignace traveled Benin roads and sub-region ones, going with visitors to discover the natural and cultural richness of his country. But between two tourist seasons, confronted by the temporary characteristic of this activity, je needed to reconnect to another passion : soil.
He has had this pasion since he was a kid. He was already going with his father to the field, fascinated by life that was coming out of it. It’s also with the latter that he decided to co-found Eco-farm in 2012, a land of animal, agricultural production but also of local transformation, focused on a respectful and sustainable process of the environment.
Here, no pesticide, no fertilizer. The agricultural practices are 100% natural. The bird droppings coming from the farming are transformed into compost, which then fertilizes soils. On a half of a hectare, Ignace produces around 10 000 plants of autochthonous species every year. Nonis, plantains, oranges, mangoes, papayas,are not only harvested, but also transformed there as juice, jam, and other healthy products, sold locally. Nothing is lost, everything is valued. It’s itself the essence of agroecology : produce in harmony with the ecosystems , while assuring an honourable profit to producers.
“The Earth has a lot to give, if we listen and respect her” he says. But Ignace doesn’t stop at its own harvest. Committed, he also wants to pass down. His Eco-farm has become a place where young people can learn, a living place where those who want to learn to cultivate differently are formed, while respecting the environment and natural cycles.
His commitment was reinforced with the project “Mangrove économie” supported by Eco-Bénin and Village Mondewith the financial support of the Quebec government. Through this program, Ignace has benefited from courses on Techniques and Innovations of Adaptation which allowed him to adapt his farm to the consequences of climate change. He also benefits from monitoring and regular technical support. “This course helped me to review all my management. Today I know better how to organize my activities, keep the accounts, and plan my future. It boosted me.” he says with pride.
Today, Possotomé’s eco-farm is a lot more than a personal project. It’s a resilience model, of carbon restraint, of farmer innovation. A place where a greener future for Benin is experimented,at a small but ambitious scale.
For more information about Mangroves économie project and Eco-Bénin
Village Monde is registered as a charitable organization with the Canada Revenue Agency and Revenu Québec and as an organization of general interest with the French government.
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The use of the masculine gender has been adopted for ease of reading and has no discriminatory intent.
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