Spining Wheels for Senegal

N’DEM is typical Senegalese village. It lacks water and jobs. So The men and women have to leave the village and seek work elsewhere. But the villagers are well-trained and industrious artisans. Vital Edge, in collaboration with Aid to Artisans, seeks to introduce a multifaceted plan to alleviate this situation and provide sustainable artisan work in the village. The plan is to introduce a number of simple technologies, some training, and some financial options including, but not limited to the following: Rain water harvesting technology, Treadle pumps, Peanut shelling technology, Peanut shell charcoal fuel,spinning wheels, ginning machine, carding equipment, Non-azo dye technology, Alum based Mordanting. Natural earth pigments, Product development. Export development.

Preliminary Research for Model for Village Production of Organic Cotton, and Organic Cotton products in Ndem, Senegal
N’dem is located  3 hours drive due East from Dakar. In most ways Ndem resembles any number of similar villages that make up rural Senegal. In particular it shares two endemic problems that characterize the entire swath of country named the Sahel, that stretches from Senegal, through Mali, Burka Fasino, Niger and beyond to the sub Sahara.

First, there has been a persistent trend towards a drier climate that dates back approximately 75 years.Secondly there has been a depopulation of the countryside. In particular there has been an increasing drift to the cities, and the drift consists principally of men.

The most obvious consequences of these two interrelated factors are that in most villages agriculture has declined to a subsistence level, and the villages have become depopulated with disproportionate preponderance of women over men.
How might these trends be reversed?

1. Dryer Climate Response

Whatever the cause, the facts of the existence of a dryer climate have been documented. But although the climate is dryer, there are two viable sources of water available to the villagers. a) Improved rainwater harvesting techniques (see later) and b) there is a viable supply of water in the water table, which in many places is only 6 meters deep. This does not apply to the entire Sahel area, but to the particular area where N’dem is situated, and this water table extends significantly across the entire hinterland of Dakar, embracing thousands of similar villages. N'dem was fortunate in that some 20 years ago a well was sunk nearby which supplied three villages. Subsequently the water supply was enhanced with a second well sunk by a Belgian NGO that increased to 13 the number of local villages supplied. As a consequence there is an adequate supply of water at N’dem, a situation that is not necessarily replicated elsewhere.

2. Absence of Males.

In one account the absence of males was noted 20 years ago. The individual who related this story was a well-traveled and educated Senegal farmer who had returned to visit the home of his grandparents and ancestors. The fields were languishing, and the men gone. Even when the rains came, there was sometimes not even enough motivation to prepare for them. This individual took it upon himself to reverse the situation. By emphasizing the role of traditional crafts* and traditional pre-chemical agriculture a renewed culture has resulted in a paradigm shift in how the village looks upon its future. There is agricultural and craft opportunities for men and women. Re-locating to the city is no longer the only response for adult males. And the increased access to markets generated by N’dem village itself has had the added benefit of providing work for over 100 weavers in surrounding villages.

The result is a new positive outlook for a village that previously had effectively lost it’s soul. That is not to say all the problems are solved. There remains a large gap between the new barely sustainable existence that now prevails, and a dynamic forward-looking economy that would indicate sustainability. When asked what the most pressing problems might be, one informant was unable to give a single answer. Amongst the topics to be addressed were sustainable organic agriculture, improved micro-watershed management, lack of immediate medical support, a new micro-finance initiative, and improved access to markets, especially overseas**.

Nonetheless, the village must be seen as an example of what can go right when sufficient positive forces collude to make a difference. It must be stated that a significant factor in the positive outcomes for this village devolve upon the single-minded charismatic character of the individual who took on the challenge. He is a well known and respected spiritual leader amongst his people***. He is married to an equally driven and sophisticated wife with European connections. These inputs are not easily replicated and have certainly played a significant role in moving this village from survival to progress. That is not to say that other leaders are not to be found, but the point has to be made that the input of the leaders on the ground has as much or more to do with success as the program itself. It could also be added that the initiative in N’dem, which had it’s birth in the calling of a significant local spiritual leader, replicates findings elsewhere in Africa that indicate that aid and programs delivered through  FBO’S (Faith Based Organizations ) in the words of one anthropologist, “far exceed non FBO’S in their efficiency and effectiveness” in for example fighting the AID’S epidemic.

Conclusion

The most obvious path to increased productivity and thus improved prosperity lies in developing Local crafts (weaving)-Local specialized agriculture (Hibiscus)-Organic cotton-Natural dyes-Sustainable fuels-Manufacturing Marketable products and providing linkage to overseas markets.

This community has the capacity to produce crafts and agricultural products to specified export standards. In so far as it is able it has focused upon organic farming techniques and organic textile sources and methods. This has positioned itself well to be competitive in the tightly focused niche markets that are opening up around the world for these products. However, only increased access to world markets can propel this model towards true sustainability. This has yet to be achieved despite the existence already of outlet shops in Dakar ,a catalogue and website. Improved access to an international market place will be the key to this community’s future sustainability.

A matter of immediate concern was the implications of the current state of the organic and regular cotton industry in Senegal. The principle processor and spinner of cotton in Dakar is threatened with closure by the pressure of untaxed Chinese imports. As it is the factory will only process a minimum quantity of organic cotton, which is hard for small producers to attain. One option would be for several villages to form a co-operative to purchase a small machine to operated independently from Dakar. This, combined with educational inputs, improved sources of fuel, water management techniques, the introduction of hand spinning technology, training in natural dye techniques and improved connectivity with high value markets can provide the stimulation necessary to create a viable and sustainable village based industry.

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