A look back at our participation in the Désertif'Actions Summit - October 2022

After the COP15 in Abidjan last May, it was at the international civil society summit, Désertif'actions, that we were able to make our voice heard in favour of agro-ecology.

Organized in Montpellier from 5 to 8 October 2022 by CARI, CNCCD and the Sahara and Sahel Observatory, this 5th edition brought together over 300 people. Agrisud was there, with a delegation of 15 people from Côte d'Ivoire, Madagascar and Senegal.

"Obstacles and levers to the deployment of agro-ecology": testimony from Agrisud in Senegal

Our representative in Senegal, Louis-Etienne Diouf, shared during a round table his experience in supporting the agro-ecological transition in the regions of Diourbel and Fatick.

"The main obstacle in this area is access to land and the management of natural resources (water, soil, forest); this is why the involvement of the authorities and more specifically of the local communities was essential.

An interdepartmental plan for sustainable agriculture (PIAD) was co-constructed with the various stakeholders (local authorities, technical services, civil society, etc.) to develop a common vision. This strategic document is now being implemented in six pilot municipalities that are mobilizing their populations to carry out their territorial project.

"It is this cohesion between all the actors that makes it easier to find solutions to the problem of land and to guarantee a concerned and sustainable management of natural resources, which is the guarantee of sustainable agriculture."

"Agro-ecology for the economic development of territories": presentation of our actions in Morocco

This participatory workshop took place in several stages with presentations, exchanges and group work to develop concrete recommendations at the operational level and elements of advocacy for agro-ecology.

Simon Baliteau, head of the Agriter program, presented the experience of the El Mohammedia olive oil cooperative in the Skoura palm grove in Morocco. This project, carried out with the Norsys Foundation and ORMVAO since 2007, has made it possible to set up a "win-win" partnership between the cooperative, Olvea and L'Oréal in order to develop a quality and responsible olive oil industry.

The adoption of agro-ecological practices in olive cultivation has led to an increase in technical performance (productivity, quality, regularity), which has resulted in positive economic results: an increase in family farm income of 23% and in the cooperative's margins of 55%.

This project has also had beneficial effects on the territory of the Skoura palm grove: agro-ecological practices are being extended to other villages, interest in olive growing is being renewed in this region and the olive oil sector is developing, particularly with new marketing prospects on a national and international scale (labelling process under way).

"An analysis of the sector that clearly targets supply and demand is essential upstream of the project. Then, mediation is important to ensure dialogue and mutual understanding between the different actors. Finally, the support of technical services and the long-term nature of the partnership are key elements for the success of territorial projects. » Simon Baliteau, Agrisud International

The many experiences presented during this 2022 edition of Désertif'Actions clearly demonstrate the relevance of agro-ecology in response to current climatic, economic and environmental challenges, as well as the importance of advocating for an agro-ecological transition at the various territorial levels.