Look around. Never in all my years have I had so much rice

Djaja Baldé speaks with difficulty due to a stammer, but that doesn't diminish her radiance as she leads us through the fields she cultivates with her household of 17 people: “Look around, see for yourself. Never in all my years have I had so much rice.”

We are in the Gabú region, in the east of Guinea-Bissau, specifically in the village of Sintchä Benfica. This area, home to a Fulani and Muslim majority, is among the populations facing the greatest challenges in the complex social landscape of Guinea-Bissau. It was one of the regions selected for five of the 15 pilot fields for improved rice production, which were established in 2022 under the project Enhancing Food Security and Food Sovereignty in Guinea-Bissau: Producing Evidence for Policy-Making1. The project is financed by the UN Joint Fund for Sustainable Development Goals and implemented by the UN in Guinea-Bissau.

At the national level, 150 farmers participated in this project, with 48% of them being women. In her village, Djaja, as the head of her family, was part of a group of 7 men and 3 women who received training in improved rice production techniques, known as SRI (System of Rice Intensification). These methods differ from traditional production models. SRI involves specific practices for selecting and preparing seeds, soil management, transplanting, and controlling water and nutrients throughout the rice-growing cycle.

The practice of SRI has numerous benefits for producers, including seed savings of more than 80%, water savings of around 35%, labor savings of over 70% for weeding, and better management of risks related to climate change. With the application of these techniques, rice yields have increased from the usual 1.5 tons per hectare (achieved with previous methods) to 6-7 tons per hectare.

The success of these techniques in the farming community has attracted attention not only from local farmers but also from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. As a result, the practice has been expanded to other villages, including Sare Dabel, Wakilare, Madina Yoba, Gadamaio, Djabicunda/Uassado, and Saucunda, all in the eastern part of the country.

These techniques are part of the United Nations' efforts to support Guinea-Bissau in achieving zero hunger and promoting sustainable agriculture, in alignment with the SDGs.

While these practices are not new, they were somewhat sidelined after the civil war that devastated Guinea-Bissau in the 1990s. The country lagged behind its neighbors in adopting advancements that were taking place across the region. Djaja is resolute and visibly moved: "This year, my family will eat well, without any worries. I’ll never go back — I’ll use this new technique until the end of my days, until I die!"

Djaja Baldé’s story is just one example of how improved farming techniques are changing lives in Guinea-Bissau. Follow more inspiring stories about rice farming and food security here.