In this agricultural village 90 kilometers from Ségou, farmers are adopting biodigesters to turn organic waste into biogas and compost. Ousmane Keïta, who manages a 2.5-hectare farm, uses crop residues and livestock manure to produce energy for cooking and fertilizer for his millet, poultry, and cattle. The technique has doubled his yields and reduced the need for firewood and chemical fertilizers. Every Friday, Mr. Keïta trains fellow farmers, with more than 20 now applying the method. Women report easier cooking and safer working conditions. The initiative is helping restore farmland, promote biodiversity, and provide affordable, clean energy.
Badiaguibougou is an agricultural village located 90 kilometers from the city of Ségou. This morning, the sun is barely visible on the horizon, and the morning dew still moistens the grass. But Ousmane Keïta, in his forties, is already working on his 2.5-hectare family farm. He combines millet cultivation with poultry and cattle farming. For more than a year, he has been fertilizing his soil with compost and using biogas produced from a biodigester. He says, “I no longer use firewood. I have fire at a lower cost.”
Mr. Keïta uses a biodigester to produce compost and biogas to improve his profitability and protect the environment. He is a member of the Badiaguibougou Seed Producers’ Group. He has received several trainings on agricultural practices and biodiversity. It was there that he discovered the biodigester and invested in it. He says, “I have doubled my yield with the biodigester.”
Mr. Keïta explains that he uses crop residues and manure from his livestock to produce energy. The biodigester residues are transformed into nutrient-rich compost to fertilize his fields. He adds, “It’s a natural fertilizer. I no longer use chemical fertilizers on my fields.” The biogas energy allows him to stop relying on firewood for his energy needs. With his biodigester, he produces between 300 and 800 kilograms of compost per month.
Mr. Keïta estimates that his millet production has increased from about 450 kilograms to more than one and a half tons. He sells part of the surplus to fund his family courtyard construction project. Thanks to the biodigester’s energy, he no longer cuts trees near his fields for firewood and has observed a regeneration of local flora.
The impact of Mr. Keïta’s actions is visible. Beyond stopping the use of firewood, he has recovered fields that were previously considered exhausted. He testifies that with the compost produced by his biodigester, his fields are becoming increasingly fertile, and crops grow faster.
Baba Faronta is an agroecology trainer with Sexagom, an organization that runs agricultural programs in Mali. He says that the biodigester is a low-cost device that produces biogas and compost through biological chemical reactions. Mr. Faronta adds that using biogas helps valorize waste, restores farmland, and reduces excessive tree cutting. It is a solution against land degradation in general and decreases dependence on chemical fertilizers.
Mr. Keïta’s practice has been successful among his community members. They now come seeking training on the technique. Every Friday morning, accompanied by members of the group, he conducts practical biodigester training in his field. To date, Mr. Keïta has trained over 20 farmers. All apply the technique and contribute to biodiversity preservation.
Zena Thiénou is a farmer who has taken the training. He says, “Before, I spent my income buying chemical fertilizer. That is now a distant memory thanks to the biodigester.” He produces natural compost to fertilize his fields. Mr. Thiénou adds, “The change is remarkable; our fields are becoming increasingly fertile.”
The use of biogas has also improved working conditions for women in Badiaguibougou. Ramata Koné, the village group president, says, “Cooking with firewood was difficult. With biogas, we don’t get tired, and we no longer take risks going to collect wood outside the village.”
Mr. Keïta believes that using a biodigester is an opportunity for local farmers. He wants to continue sharing his experience. He concludes, “For me, biogas is one of the healthiest solutions to restore farmland and access green energy.”
source:
Mali: Farmers use a biodigester to produce fertilizer and energy
