Directors Report and Accounts 2021/22 - Report - Page 11
Q&A
Q: CAN YOU TELL US A BIT
MORE ABOUT THE RAINWATER
HARVESTING AND STORAGE
AND WHY IT IS IMPORTANT FOR
THE FARMERS?
FOCUS ON
WEST AFRICA
At our West Africa event, we heard from
Shared Interest Lending Manager Divine
Buo based in Ghana, and Ethienne Christian
Dioma, Director of mango and hibiscus
co-operative Upromabio in Burkina Faso.
Divine began by giving an overview of our finance
provision in this region, explaining how the majority is
focused on cocoa (77%), with a small amount supporting
the production of nuts, fruit, soy, coffee and handcrafts.
Divine said: “The effects of climate change differ locally,
nationally and regionally, affecting livelihoods, as well as food
and water security. In West Africa, daily temperatures range
Divine then handed over to Ethienne, who explained that
Upromabio was founded as a co-operative in 2009. Based in
“WE HAVE SEEN A HUGE IMPACT AS A
RESULT OF CLIMATE CHANGE, WE ARE SEEING
INTENSE PARASITIC ATTACKS ON OUR MANGO
FRUITS, FLOWERS HAVE BEEN DRIED OUT BY
HEAT OR TORN BY STRONG WINDS, INSUFFICIENT
OR POORLY DISTRIBUTED RAIN CAUSES
IMMATURE FRUIT HARVESTS.”
Ethienne Christian Dioma
Burkina Faso, the co-operative works with over 100 farmers
processing capacity, meaning producers are unable to fulfil
between 25 to 30°C, providing very humid conditions.
orders and risk losing customers.
“So far, Upromabio has implemented a range of mitigation
measures, such as the establishment of a drip irrigation
system in the school orchard, training in water retention, tree
pruning and organic manure, and the installation of ventilation
in dryers to reduce product losses after drying from 5% to 1%.
“Over the next five years, we aim to improve the productivity of
existing mango orchards, and encourage the planting of more
“One of our customers lost 20MT of mango due to a change
pest and disease resistant orchards taking into account the
in weather pattern, another customer was forced to sell their
“There have been some great achievements through the
experiences acquired in current training and monitoring. For
produce below market price because erratic weather damaged
Fairtrade Premium, these include: the construction of a drying
the hibiscus harvest, we will encourage tailored practices that
the quality of the harvest.
unit with an average production capacity of 15MT of dried
take into account difficult climatic conditions.
mango per year, a school in Toussiana currently housing 200
“The co-operatives we are working with are also shifting
students, maintenance of a one-acre school orchard and the
“We will also increase our processing capacity to 50MT
towards climate mitigation initiatives, such as organic farming,
establishment of a half hectare mango tree nursery. We began
per year for dried mango and 10MT of mango puree. We
improved farming techniques and educating members on the
working with Shared Interest in 2019, and without this support,
will diversify by focusing on the local market and also other
importance of sustainable farming.”
we would have made only 50% of our orders.
regional Africa markets as well as European buyers.”
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SHARED-INTEREST.COM
Polaroid Image: Dried mangos after being
picked from a farm in Burkina Faso.
it experiences just one rainy season per
annum. The moisture from this rain is
supposed to support productivity throughout
the year. So rain harvesting initiatives such
as construction of mini dams to harvest the
rain water during the rainy season, and the
conserve water which is essential to combat
“All of this is causing a reduction in production yields and
Director of mango and hibiscus co-operative
Upromabio, Ethienne Christian Dioma
located in the northern part of the region
digging of mini boreholes are practices that
(43 male mango farmers, and 56 female hibiscus farmers).
“UPROMABIO HAS A DRYING UNIT WHERE
WE PRODUCE DRIED MANGO, DRIED HIBISCUS
AND MANGO PUREE. WE EXPORT TO FOUR
BUYERS IN EUROPE, BASED IN GERMANY
AND FRANCE.”
Divine said: “With Burkina Faso being
Main Article Image: Mangos on a farm in Burkina Faso.
the impact of droughts.”
Q: WHAT ARE THE HIBISCUS
FLOWERS USED FOR, AND WHY
ARE THE MANGO PRODUCERS
MALE AND HIBISCUS PRODUCERS
FEMALE?
Grace said: “The hibiscus is mainly used to
produce tea, and a small number of other
beverage drinks.”
Kwami continued: “This is due to land
ownership. In Burkina Faso and other parts
of Africa, land is owned by men and not by
women. As mango is a long-term product
requiring land, it is farmed by male farmers,
hibiscus on the other hand is a short-term
product and therefore is farmed by women.
Upromabio has a strategy to work with both
male and female farmers in this way.”
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