28 May Sowing hope, harvesting the future: vegetable farming for young women in northern Benin

In Benin, around 40 percent of the population lives below the poverty line. Average life expectancy is only 62 years. Poverty, hunger and a lack of prospects are particularly prevalent in the north, in the Bouanri district, exacerbated by the effects of climate change such as droughts and floods.

Young women are the most severely affected. Many of them are single mothers, orphans, widows or survivors of gender-based violence. For them, vegetable farming is often the only way to earn their own income and feed their families. However, lack of access to land and water, high operating costs, lack of expertise and poor marketing opportunities make this an enormous challenge.

This is exactly where our ‘Market Gardening’ project comes in. It was launched to give young women in Bouanri new prospects. Vegetable cultivation is not only economically viable, but also strengthens food security for households and the entire community.

The project is aimed at 180 young women between the ages of 18 and 35. Participants receive training and the necessary equipment to get started right away. The project has three main objectives:

Improving access to means of production by developing two irrigated vegetable cultivation areas
Training in sustainable cultivation methods and developing leadership and life skills
Promoting market access through business relationships, marketing strategies and market information
Around 15,000 people benefit indirectly from this project, including family members, the entire community, other players in the vegetable sector and, of course, consumers. The project thus has an impact far beyond the target group.

Through vegetable cultivation, young women in northern Benin gain more than just an income – they gain self-confidence, independence and a real chance for a better life.

With your support, we can sow hope and reap a future together.