Dioro Cissé | June 4, 2025
News Brief
In Dioro, Mali, a women’s gardening group has revived barren land using “Dakabana Dji,” an organic fertilizer made from cow dung, neem leaves, and charcoal residue. Trained by the agroecological farm Bassa Mali, the group produces up to 15 tons of fertilizer each season. Their shallot yield has nearly doubled—from 8 to 15 tons per hectare—providing income and food security. Oumou Coulibaly, the group’s president, says, “With natural fertilizer, our yield has doubled!” Their success is inspiring other farmers and promoting sustainable practices across the region.
On a scorching Sunday afternoon, the sun blazes overhead as market garden plots unfold endlessly along the main road in Dioro, a town 60 kilometers from Ségou. Amid the landscape, some abandoned gardens lie barren, their soil cracked and lifeless. But in sharp contrast stands the verdant “Kado Nogo” garden—a thriving two-hectare plot cultivated by the Dioro women’s group. There, 37-year-old Oumou Coulibaly, the group’s president, smiles proudly and says, “We brought our field back to life thanks to organic fertilizer.”
Ms. Coulibaly leads a group of about thirty women who depend on this gardening activity for their livelihood. They cultivate shallots once a year following the main harvest. To maintain soil fertility and increase productivity, the women use a liquid fertilizer made from cow manure. She says, “With natural fertilizer, our yield has doubled!”
In response to the degradation of their farmland, the group received training on soil fertility and biodiversity preservation from Bassa Mali, a local private agroecological farm specializing in ecological farming practices. Today, the group produces up to 15 tons of organic fertilizer known as “Dakabana Dji.” Ms. Coulibaly emphasizes that this liquid fertilizer is both effective and safe for the soil and crops. All members actively participate in its production, typically gathering in the afternoons after finishing their domestic chores, while the president assigns tasks as each member arrives.
Thanks to this fertilizer, the group has boosted its shallot production from 8 to 15 tons per hectare. A portion of the earnings—up to 30,000 CFA francs (about $52) per member each season—is shared among the women, while the remainder is saved in a communal fund to purchase new equipment and support social events like baptisms and weddings within the group.
According to the group’s president, the fertilizer is made by fermenting cow dung, water, charcoal residue, termite clay, and neem leaves. Ms. Coulibaly explains that it takes 21 days to produce the fertilizer.
To use “Dakabana Dji,” Ms. Coulibaly explains, at least six tons of the fertilizer should be applied per hectare—once at the beginning and again mid-season. This practice promotes soil regeneration and helps restore its natural balance. “Dakabana Dji” enriches the soil by supplying essential nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. It also supports the health of soil microorganisms, creating a fertile ecosystem that fosters robust plant growth.
The group’s success has begun to inspire others in the Dioro community. Several producers have started adopting “Dakabana Dji,” providing the group with an additional source of income from fertilizer sales. Ms. Coulibaly estimates that these sales could bring in up to 2 million CFA francs (approximately $3,475) per season.
Ousmane Touré, a farmer in Sokè, a neighboring village, is also pleased with the results of using “Dakabana Dji.” He explains that it gives better results than the urea fertilizer he used previously. Now his field has regained its former fertility, and his yield has increased from less than one ton to two tons per hectare.
Bougouna Coulibaly, head of the agricultural sector in Ségou, says that harmful human practices such as deforestation, extensive agriculture, and excessive use of chemical fertilizers worsen soil degradation.
Mr. Coulibaly advises producers to use organic fertilizer, which enhances soil moisture and restores natural cycles such as nitrogen, carbon, and water, thereby promoting ecological resilience. However, he warns against overusing organic fertilizer, which can lead to excessive nutrient buildup in the soil. He also recommends crop rotation and reforestation to protect and improve soil fertility.
Ms. Coulibaly and the members of her association are proud of the results achieved with organic fertilizer. She says, “We are becoming aware of the importance of preserving all elements of nature for a better future.”
