Soil Research

The Key to Successful Agriculture

The Project

We are firmly committed to agroecology. That’s why we focus on soil research, as healthy soil is essential for successful harvests. Soils in Benin are diverse but often lack nutrients. This is due to intensive farming, erosion, and ineffective soil conservation techniques.

Before establishing school or community gardens, we always analyze the soil quality. This ensures we clearly understand the soil’s composition and potential.

Objective

By applying and promoting soil analysis, we aim to improve agricultural productivity. We help farmers gain insights into how to grow their crops more effectively.

Project Description

We collaborate closely with the Faculty of Agriculture laboratory at the University of Parakou for this project. We have donated various analysis equipment and reagents to help them assess soil quality. This allows the lab technicians to determine the soil’s composition and fertility and advise on which crops will thrive best in local soil conditions. Additionally, they can recommend biological supplements needed to optimize the soil.

Results and Evolution

Prior to setting up 19 community gardens, the laboratory conducted comprehensive soil analyses. Thanks to these studies, our agronomists knew exactly which crops had the best chances of success and how to enrich the soil.

Although we would like to conduct soil analyses for more agricultural initiatives, the cost remains a challenge. The laboratory faces the task of performing more analyses while keeping costs manageable.