sustainable farming in Senegal: Mariama Sonko empowers women through agroecology

In the heart of Casamance, a region known for its lush landscapes and rich agricultural traditions, a quiet revolution is taking place. For over three decades, Mariama Sonko has been at the forefront of this movement, working tirelessly to restore dignity and economic independence to rural women through sustainable farming practices.

« Food sovereignty cannot be achieved without empowering rural women and their ancestral knowledge, » declares Mariama Sonko, founder of the pan-African movement Nous sommes la solution, which brings together over 800 associations across eight West African nations. Since childhood, she has witnessed the struggles faced by women in agriculture, from limited land ownership to financial dependence. Her life’s mission is to change that narrative.

roots of resilience: a childhood shaped by struggle

Born into a farming family in Niaguis, Mariama grew up observing the systemic barriers that kept women from achieving economic freedom. « The pressure placed on women from an early age was unbearable. It made me angry, » she recalls. The injustice deepened when her father passed away, leaving her mother to care for ten children with minimal resources. « That moment forced me to question everything. In my first year of high school, I was forced into marriage to fulfill the expectation that a woman’s place is in the home. But I refused to surrender. »

At just 19, Mariama defied tradition by securing a plot of land to cultivate with other women. Their efforts were short-lived—they were forcibly removed. Undeterred, she set a new goal: land ownership. A decade later, her perseverance paid off. Today, she manages a thriving 3-hectare organic farm near Ziguinchor, where 30 women work alongside her, free from pesticides and reliant solely on local seeds.

breaking barriers: financial independence and community impact

The farm has become a model of self-sufficiency. Over 100 women now have personal bank accounts and savings, and many have diversified their income by reinvesting profits into secondary ventures. « Seeing women gain control over their finances and futures fills me with pride. This is the change we’ve worked for, » Mariama shares. Her efforts extend beyond the farm; she now travels across West Africa as a vocal advocate for agroecology and seed sovereignty.

The movement she leads, Nous sommes la solution, has expanded to include 800 associations in ten countries, with over 200,000 women—many of them illiterate—joining the cause. « When I’m with these women, I see progress that words can’t capture. Their resilience is the heartbeat of Africa’s future, » she reflects. The movement’s core mission is clear: to reclaim Africa’s agricultural heritage by restoring control over local seed systems and reducing dependence on multinational corporations.

Mariama’s journey is a testament to the power of perseverance and collective action. From a young girl defying societal norms to a leader transforming lives, her story inspires a new generation of women to take ownership of their destinies—one seed, one harvest, one community at a time.