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Alternative solar method of salt production at the Ouidah coastal lagoon

  • 2022 Winner

Humanitarian Association for Africa (AHPA)

Context

In Ouidah, southern Benin, women practice the traditional method of salt crystallization by heating and evaporating brine. Salt production provides them with supplementary income to support their families. However, this method of salt production has a negative impact on biodiversity because it encourages deforestation, particularly of mangroves, around the salt pans. Environmental authorities in Benin have therefore banned mangrove cutting on the coastal lagoon, complicating the traditional salt extraction activity and causing economic hardship for these women.

The Beninese NGO CRIPADD believes it is necessary to develop production methods compatible with the rational management of natural resources, while not depriving local populations of the opportunities that the natural environment in which they live offers them for the production of food (particularly fishing and salt) and goods and services. A study was conducted in 2021 on this subject in order to adapt salt production techniques. Based on the results of this study, the Humanitarian Association for Africa, in partnership with the NGO CRIPADD, is implementing a project that uses a new method of salt production, solar drying of brine on tarpaulins, to maintain this declining ancestral activity.

  • In partnership with: NGO CRIPADD
Funder(s):
• La Guilde
• The dB'Human endowment fund

Project objectives

  • To find a solar alternative to traditional salt production, in order to reconcile this activity with the protection of the mangroves, while ensuring sufficient income for the producers.
  • Raising public awareness of the ecological importance of preserving mangroves and adopting sustainable salt production practices
  • To prepare the human, material and organizational conditions for the practice of salt production according to agreed techniques
  • To produce salt using solar energy combined with traditional methods

Activities

  • Raising public awareness of the ecological importance of preserving mangroves and adopting sustainable salt production practices
  • Training of CRIPADD technical teams in salt production techniques using school drying methods, and training of beneficiaries in salt production using tarpaulin drying methods.
  • Training for women beneficiaries in the principles of associative life, management, and teamwork to promote cooperative cohesion and community living
  • Organizing group meetings during the preparatory phase, and during the production and sales periods, to share experiences.

Direct beneficiaries

12 women salt producers during the first year of the project and 18 women during the second, all living in the district of Avlékété and distributed in three cooperatives.

Social networks

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Through its Microprojects division, the NGO La Guilde, in partnership with the French Development Agency, supports the implementation of microprojects for sustainable development internationally.