Market gardening is booming in the Podor department (North). In Ndioum Walo, a neighborhood in the commune of Ndioum, nearly 300 women set an example by pooling their strength. Thanks to their dedication and self-sacrifice, they have become pioneers in the field, commanding respect and admiration.
Watered by the Senegal River and its tributaries, the Podor department is an area with strong agricultural potential. In the commune of Ndioum, women took full advantage of this opportunity. With nearly 300 members, a women’s group has set itself the objective of feeding the population through market gardening. Despite limited resources, they launched themselves with determination in their shoulders. More than 10 years after their debut, “Gesel rewbe” (the women’s field) is doing well. “We started with peanuts, cowpeas and okra. Each woman found her own resources to carry out the campaign. Despite the difficulties, we often had good harvests; which has allowed us to last all these years,” testifies Gamou Ndaw, president of the Ndioum Walo Women’s Association.
At the head of the group for two years, Gamou knows all the twists and turns of the project. “We are in an area where agriculture has always been a domain reserved for men. But we had to break down these barriers and show that women are also capable of working the land,” she explains. To get there, it took a lot of energy and sacrifice for these brave ladies. Not benefiting from support or funding, they rolled up their sleeves to make their dream come true. “Our Gie has 268 members and that is already a good thing. Instead of waiting for funding, we decided to contribute to carry out our activities. By the grace of God and with good organization, we are getting through it,” says Ms. Ndaw.
A contribution of 5,000 FCfa per member
Unanimously, the members of the Gie, housewives, adhere to the vision of the office. Thus, each of them pays 5,000 FCfa annually, for a total of 1.340 million FCfa. A significant sum which will allow them to carry out the agricultural campaign in complete peace of mind. In fact, with this money, they will buy the fuel necessary for the five months of the campaign, pay the pump attendant and the guard and pay the mechanic’s bill in the event of a motor pump breakdown. “To facilitate the work, we have formed seven sectors each led by a coordinator responsible for supervision. Regarding irrigation, each sector has one full day,” explains Billal Hanne, coordinator of sector 2.
Funding that fell from the sky
Once the logistical side was settled, we had to tackle the seeds. But on this point, women have divergent opinions. Alongside the peanut that made them happy, some want to associate other speculations. And to avoid a break in this beautiful dynamic, a consensus was found. “If we are known in the area, it is thanks to peanuts. However, if people want to grow something else, they are free. Besides, it’s a good thing, because the market demands it,” thinks Gamou Ndaw. Thus, other varieties came to accompany the peanut. The ladies now grow chili peppers, squash, cucumbers and even onions. And for two years, the women of Ndioum Walo have been able to count on the support of the NGO 3D in partnership with the Spaniards of Manos Unidas. Funding was therefore found and the activities took a different turn. “This funding came at its right time. We benefited from a fence to enclose the perimeter, a powerful motor pump, quality seeds and fertilizer,” informs the president of the Gie “Gesel rewbe”.
For the new campaign supported by funding from the NGO 3D, the women of Ndioum Walo experimented with squash and cucumber, crops previously unknown in the area.
The good returns obtained have pushed donors to renew their support. “It was really risky to carry out a campaign during the winter period. But, with their dedication, they achieved good results. This is why we decided to extend this support for this current campaign,” informs Khalifa Gaye, supervisor of NGO 3D and responsible for technical monitoring of the project in Ndioum Walo.
Launched in 2024, the Ndioum Walo women’s project should continue until 2026. For the current campaign, Gamou Ndaw and her brave colleagues will grow chili peppers, onions, okra and even peppers. Numerous and varied speculations, but on a fairly limited scope. Moreover, on this point, these women specializing in market gardening do not fail to make themselves heard every time they have the opportunity. “In our areas, man has always had control over the land. But the world is moving and mentalities must go with it. We are economic players. And like them, we must have access to land,” insists the president.
In the recent past, these ladies had demanded land for market gardening. They had won their case with the granting of 14 hectares less than a kilometer from the city. But, after a single campaign and lack of resources, they ended up selling this area to an individual, in the form of rental. “We still have these 14 hectares and our objective is to make them serviceable. We need significant funding, because it is quite large. We are seeking support from the authorities to make this dream of feeding the entire population a reality,” adds Souadou Ndiaye, member of the “Gesel rewbe” group.
By Mamadou Thiam (correspondent)
