Pierre Rabhi has won international recognition for his work to promote organic agriculture, or agro-ecology. He came to visit daily paper “Le Pays” on Monday February 1st.

Pierre Rabhi : I have been working at length in Burkina since 1981. I was in charge of the agro-ecology training centre in Gorom Gorom. I am now here to see how we can move forward together with our partners. I have my own farm in France and come here on mission for the CRIAD (Centre de relations internationales entre agriculteurs pour le développement - Centre for international relations between farmers for development). That is how, since 1981, I have been returning to promote agro-ecology, while continuing to run my farm in France. It was always agro-ecology that brought me here. Awareness is beginning to grow about the fact that famine is on the increase, that there is climate change and that fertilisers are a problem, because the price is going up all the time. At present there are numerous populations of the so called Third World faced with the question “Which agriculture for today’s world?” The question is especially relevant here in the Sahelian region, which has seen droughts and important climate variations. We must remember that in the 70ies drought led to enormous climate change. Therefore, between droughts, expensive fertilisers and their harmful impact on the environment, we must find a way. And the only way now recognised world wide is agro-ecology.

What does agro-ecology stand for more precisely?

The word is a combination of “agro” and “ecology”. Modern agriculture is based on chemical fertilisers, pesticides and selected seeds. I have witnessed the disastrous effects of chemical agriculture on the soil, as well as water pollution and important losses of domestic bio-diversity. I therefore decided to manage my own farm agro-ecologically. People did not much understand what this was all about. Except that now we have demonstrated that agro-ecology is the best solution, even in barren areas, compared to all other techniques. Here the land is arid and the sunlight bears down very strongly, so that the soil is sterilised by the heat. This destroys many essential bacteria. The soil is in fact composed of living matter, full of microbes, worms, insects and so on. It is like a stomac that digests. It acts upon the seeds we plant. But if we do not provide the necessary nourishment, it cannot carry out this work, its metabolism is weakened. One absolutely vital soil ingredient is the humus. Here soils are both arid and bare.

When it rains the soil is eroded and carried away by the water. Therefore the problem is enormous, water and soil are lost at the same time. Agro-ecology means that we bring nutrients to the soil and fertilise it with processed organic matter. . We take organic waste, such as dung, straw, etc and subject them to a regimen of fermentation, by piling them up and adding humidity. This organic process will produce humus in two months, with several benefits. One is physical: soil which is too rich in sand will gain in thickness. Soil which is too hard and contains much clay will become more mellow. Humus has a water absorption capacity of up to five times its own weight. Some composts can take up ten times more water than their initial weight. This is the ideal way to come to grips with dry soils.

The humus also contains all other nutrients that plants require, plus the bacteria, which are particularly important. The compost that we produce is a ferment which will infest the soil and its microbes in a positive sense. These will then start working and revitalise the soil. Agro-ecology purports to regenerate the environment. We use water management as a way to fight erosion and retain soil humidity. Reforestation is also a necessity. Trees are extremely important, for several reasons. Agro-ecology includes all this, as well as the conservation of seeds. So much of the traditional seeds has been lost, because of the introduction of adapted varieties. Every effort must be made to preserve traditional seeds. Moreover, agro-ecology is a philosphy. We come back to the love of the land. The love of all that feeds us. We take care of the land for this reason and it will therefore continue to bring us food.

Listening to you one may take it that you are not in favour of GMOs.

I am openly against GMOs because they are what you call a chimera. Nature has never mixed species in this fashion, never at the level of genes. Furthermore GMOs are patented organisms. Therefore people will no longer have access to the seeds free of charge. We know that some “developing countries” already experience great difficulties. We are therefore opposed, seeing that we become dependant. It is the large transnational corporations that take home profits from all this and the freedom and autonomy of people are destroyed.

Are you satisfied with the outcome of the Copenhagen summit?

Not at all. Today I rank as number three among ecologists in France. I never believed that it would be possible to really enter into the question of ecology in these summits. There are too many financial interests at stake. The summit was a flop, because financial considerations carried more weight than respect for nature and humankind.

LE PAYS: What is your opinion of African agricultural policies?

The question of food will become ever more serious, because international business companies have contrived to deprive humankind of its capacity to survive by its own means. A nation which cannot feed its population cannot be a free country. Likewise, a human being who cannot feed her/himself is not free. A country can preserve its freedom, thanks to its peasant farmers, provided that they are taken good care of, encouraged, supported and promoted.

Are you referring to the foundation that you wish to create here in Burkina?

I have come here to set up the “Pierre Rabhi Foundation for agro-ecology, food security and healthy food.” By security I mean, in quantitative terms, the ability of a country to feed its children and prepare future generations for their citizenship. There is also the health issue. Today’s food carries with it contaminants, that are very harmful to public health. Enormous amounts of of chemicals are added to food and I have many scientist friends, who have produced evidence that toxic substances in food destroy physical health. I have become used to saying nowadays that when we receive an invitation to a meal, we have to wish ourselves good luck, because all foodstuffs may at present be carriers of pathogens. We hear of rising rates of cancer and blood disease and even brain disease, generated by contaminants. Therefore agro-ecology implies that we produce not only quantity, but also quality. Food should indeed be a remedy. The farmer should be called on before the doctor. Healthy food will eliminate a large number of pathologies.

Recorded by Lassina Fabrice Sanou

LE PAYS, February 5th 2010

Le Service National des Editions en Langues Nationales, SEDELAN, welcomes the arrival of Pierre Rabhi in Burkina. We are already available to co-operate with his foundation and facilitate its contacts with the farmers’ organisations. The objective for Burkina is to give all farmers access to of the best agro-ecological techniques. Chemical agriculture and its nuisances have had their field day. It is high time to turn to agro-ecology!

Koudougou February 5th 2010
Maurice Oudet
Director, SEDELAN