Les Jardins de l’Espoir Empowers women in agricultural logistics and agroecological quality standards
As part of its projects « Quality Assurance and Financial Management of Farmer Agroecological Systems » (AQSAEP) and « Promotion of Agroecological Practices » (ProPAE), the NGO Les Jardins de l’Espoir organized a training session from January 7 to 9, 2025, for women from the communes of Tori-Bossito, So-Ava, Abomey-Calavi, Ouidah, and Sèmè-Kpodji.
Targeting primarily women, young mothers, and vulnerable women in the Atlantique department, this project places women at the core of its activities. “Women play a critical role in household nutrition. They need better tools to increase their income and achieve financial independence,” explained Raoudath Bouraima, President of Les Jardins de l’Espoir. She emphasized that this training is part of a series of workshops aimed at promoting agroecology, which ensures good health and a healthy environment.
This workshop focused on managing the logistics of products from agroecological farms, from production to sale. Using an interactive participatory approach, the various trainers successfully captured the women’s interest and kept them engaged throughout the three-day program.
Marthe Kinigbé, a training participant, stated, “This is an excellent initiative. Producing is good, but knowing how to preserve is essential to avoid losses. Thanks to this training, I am now better prepared to preserve my products and market them effectively.”
A Game-Changing Initiative
“These training sessions help us prevent post-harvest losses and increase our income. For instance, I plant sweet potatoes without burying them and also produce natural fertilizers. I plan to apply the knowledge I’ve gained to optimize my activities. I thank Les Jardins de l’Espoir and its partners for this support,” said Agballia Yolande from the commune of Ouidah.
The trainers adopted a pedagogical approach designed to maximize participant engagement and learning outcomes.
According to Serge Koutchoro, a capacity-building and social conservation specialist, the training contributes to achieving sustainable development goals. The goal was to encourage women to adopt new approaches to collecting, storing, and conserving products for better market value.
Another segment of the workshop, led by Ezéchielle Bouet Kouanou, a quality control engineer for food and health products, focused on agroecological quality standards and preservation methods. Participants learned several techniques, including product storage, client access, and essential practices for pre-harvest, harvest, and transportation to consumers.
Field Support to Sustain Acquired Knowledge
Beyond the training sessions, the AQSAEP project includes ongoing support to ensure the implementation of acquired knowledge in the field. Field facilitators are tasked with providing this follow-up.
Nicherolle Larissa Aissi, a facilitator in Tori-Bossito, expressed her satisfaction: “The exchanges were interactive, and the women were very motivated to apply the knowledge they acquired.”
Participant Outlook
Les Jardins de l’Espoir has high expectations for the beneficiaries. “We expect them not only to master agricultural logistics and storage and conservation mechanisms but also to transport their products to farmers’ markets for better value,” stated Noël Obognon, Executive Director of Les Jardins de l’Espoir.
“For several months now, we have benefited from invaluable support. I share this new knowledge with my colleagues and hope these sessions become permanent,” said Houézé Pauline, praising the quality of the training.
Similarly, Jeannette Anoumou and Donatienne Dansou, participants from So-Ava, shared their positive experiences with the program. For all involved, the three-day workshop successfully met their expectations.
With continued support from its partners, Les Jardins de l’Espoir, through this project, is initiating the transformation of traditional agricultural systems into resilient, sustainable, and equitable models. It promotes inclusive agroecology that respects health and the environment while empowering rural women.
For the record, this training workshop was made possible thanks to Agroecology Fund and SUCCO through the ProPAE project.
Edwige B. BINAZON