In Koudougou, near Bouaflé, women farmers are transforming once-barren lands into thriving agricultural fields, demonstrating the power of community action and environmental stewardship.
Led by Pawindebem Zouma Ouédraogo, the Koudougou Women’s Association, now nearly 200 members strong, is actively rehabilitating farmland degraded by illegal gold mining. The women fill mining pits, enrich the soil with organic matter, and implement sustainable farming techniques, gradually reviving both soil fertility and surrounding forests.
“The land is all my family and I have left. I can’t let it die,” says Ms. Ouédraogo, tending her four-hectare farm. Thanks to the support of the NGO Agir pour l’Environnement dans les Industries Extractives (AEIE), she and other members have received training and tools such as rakes, wheelbarrows, and carts to restore their fields.
The women now grow bananas, beans, tomatoes, cocoa, and other crops on previously infertile land. This year alone, Ms. Ouédraogo anticipates a harvest of three tonnes of eggplant, three tonnes of beans, and ten tonnes of bananas, generating income of approximately 4 million CFA francs (around 7,117 USD). Fellow member Bintou Sawadogo earned 800,000 CFA francs (around 1,427 USD), funds she uses to support her children’s education.
Beyond economic benefits, the initiative has strengthened women’s roles in their households and communities. “Now I’m consulted when important family decisions are made. I feel respected,” Ms. Ouédraogo shares.
AEIE soil restoration expert Jacques Koffi notes that before their intervention, illegal mining had rendered 90% of village farmland infertile. The NGO continues to support the women through training, nursery development, composting, intercropping, and product marketing, ensuring long-term sustainability.
Through their efforts, the women of Koudougou have become visible champions of both environmental recovery and local development. “We are not just repairing the earth — we are giving it a new life,” says Ms. Ouédraogo.
Advocacy Message:
The work of the Koudougou Women’s Association highlights the urgent need to protect land from destructive practices like illegal mining. It underscores the power of community-led action in restoring ecosystems, ensuring food security, and empowering women. Their success is a call to governments, NGOs, and communities across Africa to invest in sustainable land management and to support local champions who are transforming both the land and lives.
