New grant realizes ‘Drops for Crops’ in Burkina Faso

Wonderful news! The Rijksdienst voor Ondernemend Nederland (RVO) has approved the application for a grant of Woord en Daad and four partners. After an intense period of figuring out, composing and testing the project plan.

It is about the project ‘Drops for Crops’, in this project we work, together with the farmers of the dry North of Burkina Faso, on an efficient way to use water. The RVO supports this project with no less than 2,4 million euros. Our project partners and other donors together add 1,5 million euros. An important partner in the execution of this project is the American NGO Living Water International. This Christian organization already has executed over 18.000 water projects around the whole world and therefore is a valuable addition to the project team.

An area with potency

‘Drops for Crops’ wants to make a difference for at least 20.000 Burkinian people. In particular, small farmers who cultivate vegetables, among them are many women. The North of Burkina Faso, which borders on the Sahel, is struggling with drought and poverty. But, it is also an area with potency! Demands for onions and potatoes are growing and the dry climate is, in combination with irrigation, exceptionally suitable for these crops. More efficiency and better management can make a big difference for the farmers and their families. On the one hand by an efficient and innovative use of ground water and the construction and renovation of wells. On the other hand by organizing groups of farmers and improved local policy for irrigated cultivation of vegetables. In this way, farmers are able to produce more and their competitiveness can be strengthened. And the goal is that, in the end, the whole area profits of every available drop of water in a durable way!