Father Godfrey NZAMUJU, Songhai Centre, Benin
Special Award for the holistic approach to agribusiness carried out with outstanding success in the Songhai Centre in Benin that addresses the specific needs of local communities
Songhai is a center for training, for production, research and development of sustainable agricultural practices. The movement seeks to augment the standard of living of Africa's populations by creating viable agricultural enterprises through the use of local resources, traditional and modern methods; the hybridization of traditional and modern agricultural practices; the instruction and implementation of effective management; the encouragement of individual and communal responsibility and initiatives; and the inclusion of diverse opinions. The ambition of Songhai is to foster an environment of creativity and innovation and as a result, reestablish a stable African society. Songhai draws inspiration from "the Timbuctu effect" - Pride, progress and effective result-, by clearly emphasizing all the advantages Africa offers. Citizens can therefore benefit from globalization rather than be excluded from it or solely bear the weight of its effects.
Songhai is based on the principle that for agriculture to become a viable force of development, it must be extensive and holistic, going beyond purely agricultural knowledge (integrated production, animal husbandry, fish farming, and appropriate technologies) and include education in management, organization, and planning. In pursuing these goals, Songhai is involved in various activities, highlighting sectors leading up to and resulting from agricultural production. Its principal activities are completely inter-related.
The objectives of the agricultural production are the following:
- Promote an integrated system of agricultural production (diversification)
- Manage the production units with a goal of making them profitable as well as remaining conscious of the environment
- Improve the productivity of production units (training given by Songhai cannot be credible if it is not validated on the field via profitability and research)
- Supervise the student farmers and trainees
- Provide agricultural services for the installed farmers and the Songhai centers (ex. production of seeds and materials)
Funds are collected from the sale of Songhai's own products as well as grants from various partners. Most of Songhai's resources are used to finance production activities while a small portion is allocated to administrative expenses. The ongoing objective is to attain 100% financial independence.
Songhai is an institution which seeks to exist via its own efforts and which finances its programs primarily from revenues generated by its own activities. In addition to the internally generated funds, several partners support many of Songhai's investment projects
