Valorization Of Water Hyacinth In Compost

BASIC CITY DATA

• Population size: 66,055 

• Population growth rate (%): 1.45 

• Surface area (sq.km): 149.00

• Population density (people/sq.km): 443.00
  

• GDP per capita (USD): 574.00

• GINI index: 0.8 

• Main source of prosperity: Agriculture

ABSTRACT

In Benin, in the valley base of Ouémé, the second richest after the Nile, but unfortunately not valued so far, the presence of hyacinth on the surface of a large part of the rivers and lakes causes a very strong seasonal eutrophication of the river and a fatal anoxia to the fishery resources on which depend more than a hundred species and a large part of the economy of the region.

Collection of water hyacinth by local residents is promoted by setting up an economic sector of sustainable development of hyacinths through aerobically composting. Local farming communities are very interested; they turn a problem into an opportunity. The activity of transforming water hyacinth into green compost is a dual purpose innovation: it contributes to the preservation of the environment while reducing the effect of ozone depletion caused by agricultural chemical inputs and improves the productivity of agricultural land used for market gardening.

This project is inspired by ancestral farming techniques now abandoned in favor of chemical fertilizers and pesticides.

Main results obtained:

• 3,550 farmers from villages in the lower Bonou valley, Dangbo, Adjohoun and surrounding communes (including 2,050 market gardeners) use compost instead of chemical inputs;

• reduction of greenhouse gas emissions due to the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides;

• reconstitution of plant cover and aquatic fauna through reforestation

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Our project aligns with the priorities of the Strategic Plan for Agricultural Sector Recovery (PSRSA), (i) - Strategic Development Guidelines (OSD), (ii) the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), (iii) the Growth Strategy for Poverty Reduction (SCRP), (iv- United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, (vi) - Desertification (vii) and the Sustainable Management of the First Productive Factor of Rural People that Soils are based on the plan (Benin 2025-Alafia), which establishes the long-term vision and provides clear guidelines for agricultural promotion

ORIGINS

In Benin, in the valley base of Ouémé, the second richest after the Nile, but unfortunately not valued to this day. The  presence of hyacinth on the surface of a large part of the rivers and  lakes causes a very strong seasonal eutrophication of the river and a  fatal anoxia to the fishery resources on which depend more than a  hundred species and a large part of the economy of the region. Farmers  in the lower Ouémé valley are, for the most part, illiterate, especially those in the lower valley of the Ouémé and therefore unable  to decipher the instructions for use. This would lead to food poisoning due to overdose or confusion between chemicals. In  Benin, the agricultural sector contributes 33% of Gross Domestic  Product (GDP) and employs around 70% of the mainly rural labor force  (INSAE, 2015). To this end, various programs and projects have been initiated for the  benefit of the agricultural sector in our country in order to ensure  food security, make this sector more efficient and, by extension, boost the local economies in our rural communes as well as the national economy by boosting the value chains of different agricultural sectors. However, rural populations, despite government efforts to benefit the  agricultural and rural world, face the challenges of declining  agricultural yields and food insecurity. The main cause of this situation is the decline in soil fertility and soil degradation. The  total number of households affected by these problems of water hyacinth, diseases caused by chemicals and problems of declining soil  fertility are 14989 in the commune of Dangbo, 19785 in the communes of Adjohoun and 22456 in the communes of Bonou. The project is part of this logic and aims to promote sustainable  agriculture in the areas of intervention with regard to the drastic  destruction of arable land, the decline in soil fertility and the  constraints related to the adverse effects of climate change.

The project aims to provide producers in the lower Ouémé valley with compost that has both a biofertilizing effect and a bio-pesticide effect based on water hyacinth, and to create a new regenerative sustainable  economic sector and income for residents All  the actions that will be carried out are part of a logic of valorization of available resources, eradication of chemicals, creation  of income generating activity, economic development of the municipality,  increase of producers' incomes and soil protection and rehabilitation of degraded lands. Specifically, it will be to

• Disseminate composting technology based on water hyacinth

• Organize with the community the sales strategies of this compost

• Improve river navigation

• Develop a new economic sector

• Train producers in the manufacture of this technology

• Evaluate the impact of these soil fertility management technologies on  the productivity and income of farms at the end of the project
  

Danbo City Council provided technical equipment, financed the competition Dare to Innovate through the purchase of a tricycle motorcycle for gathering hyacinths to the composting site. The project also received support from an owner of a  private farm that helped to mobilize  producers to train them. The project also solicited funds from the Belgian NGO Anama.

The implementation of this project required the mobilization of a young  dynamic team of young volunteers who believed in our project. Aside from governemnt funding, the project also received funding and donations from the public.

INNOVATIVE ASPECTS

This initiative is revolutionary and has never been developed anywhere in the world. It is the result of indogenous practices abandoned at the expense of chemical fertilizers. Indeed, the proposed innovation includes two specialties that are the magic compost has within it a bio-fertilizing power and a bio-pesticides power. It allows farmers to save money and have two effects in one product. It  allows biological products, protect the soil, participate in the  reduction of groundwater pollution, solve the problems of anorexia, greenhouse gas emissions, caused by hyacinths contribute generally to developmentthe municipality and participate in sustainable land management and adaptation to climate change

This  innovation is in line with several national and international policies,  particularly on the priorities of the agricultural and global development strategy of Benin's governments, namely improving productivity and strengthening agricultural diversification. the  Strategic Plan for the Revival of the Agricultural Sector (PSRSA), which constitutes, for this purpose, a framework for the operationalization of reference documents at the national and  international level that are

• Strategic Orientations for  Development (OSD), 

• Millennium  Development Goals (MDGs), 

• Growth Strategy for Poverty  Reduction (SCRP), 

• United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, 

• Biodiversity Preservation, 

• Desertification, and

• Sustainable management of the first factorof production of the rural populations that the soils constitute.

It  should also be noted that all these documents for the protection of soil and environmental resources in our country draw their orientation of  the country's long-term development strategy (Benin 2025-Alafia), which  establishes the long-term vision and gives clear guidance with regard  to the promotion of The  vision is for the country to move towards greater diversification of  agricultural production with a focus on soil protection and  rehabilitation, since the weakest link in this policy is a sustainable agriculture with special attention to the maintenance of natural resources and the environment. Thus, one of the major constraints to the development of crop production identified in the PSDSA is the degradation of soil fertility in almost all the agro-ecological zones of Benin. However, because of its geographical position, the country has real assets that can contribute to better returns. For  this reason, PSDSA has included in its component 3.2 sustainable land  management (SLM) and aquatic ecosystems as one of the options for  improvement. For  this reason PSDSA has included in its component 3.2 sustainable land  management (SLM) and aquatic ecosystems as one of the options for improvement.

This innovation was not resisted by the community as they themselves were confronted with the problem caused by water hyacinths and were looking for ways to combat them. Also the poisoning diseases and the death caused by the use of chemical pesticides within the population already created controversy and the residents took to heart this new innovation which facilitated their life and contributed to the development of a new economic sector and job creation. Local farming communities are very interested; they turn a problem into an opportunity.

DESIRED CHANGE OR OUTCOME

Some main results have been obtained:

• Use of compost instead of chemical inputs by 3,550 farmers from villages in the lower Bonou valley, Dangbo, Adjohoun and surrounding communes (including 2050 market gardeners)

• Increase to 90% of seed germination rate in the region of Ouémé, land known for its market gardeners

• Training of 1,056 producers in the production of compost. We plan to reach 15500 producers by 2019

• 12% increase in revenues and improved land quality (producer testimony and field data)
  

• Direct creation 247 jobs around the value chain and indirect creation of newarly 400 jobs

• Ease of river traffic, fishing activities

• Reduction of greenhouse gas emissions due to the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides

• Reconstitution of plant cover and aquatic fauna through reforestation

• Development of a new sector by water hyacinth in progress (transformation of water hyacinth into basketry such as bags, packaging, basket, furniture)

The evaluation tools used are management focused on development results and management focused on development objectives. SWOT analysis is used to evaluate these changes. Monitoring, evaluation and financial reports have been put in place to report on project progress. A monitoring and evaluation sheet is available to the mayor and district chiefs to measure the impact of the project. Presidents (es) of grouping and cooperative are put to contribution. 

For  the improvement of the project, partnership agreements are signed with the departmental direction of the agriculture of the livestock and fishing Ouémé in order to introduce into the harmonized development plan the insertion of the valorization of this economically profitable sector. New communication strategies such as public availability of document supports and compost production data sheet are developed. The partnerships with various youth organizations including the young international chamber are established. Gender involvement and technology transfer in our extension policy aer both achieved. We presented our project at COP 23. Information campaigns are carried out through the radio and television channels as well as the Web.

The initiative helps make the commune of Dangbo a common supplier of organic products. This initiative contributes to the creation of Black Gold and job creation. It  participates in the improvement of the economic activities and contributes to the social satisfaction, economic of the households. It allows the population to increase their income and to contribute to the development of households. It also contributes to the mitigation and  adaptation to climate change. It advoctes responsible production, consumption and the protection of the terrestrial and aquatic. It promotes the mainstreaming of gender.

LEARNING ASPECTS

This innovation is replicable everywhere. Cities can learn from it and solve the problem that invasive plants cause water. Our city is ready to make technology transfers. To encourage exchanges of groups of young people to learn from each other to foster a synergy of actions. Our city is ready to form other cities to promote the popularization of this technology and to improve it if necessary. Our city remains open to all exchanges, all opportunities to work.

RELEVANCE TO SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOAL

• Goal 1: End poverty in all of its forms

• Goal 2: End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture

• Goal 8: Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all

• Goal 11: Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable          

• Target 5: Reduce deaths and number of people affected by disasters with particular focus on the poor and people in vulnerable situations

• Target 6: Improve air quality and manage municipal and other wastes

• Target 7: Universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible green and public spaces, in particular of women, children older persons and persons with disabilities

• Target 8: Support positive economic, social and environmental links between urban, peri-urban and rural areas

• Target 9: Improving resource efficiency, mitigation and adaptation to climate change, resilience to disasters and implement holistic disaster risk management

• Goal 12: Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns

• Goal 13: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts

• Goal 15: Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss