Market gardening takes a flight in Burkina Faso

0 Comments | AFP, June, 2008

OUEGUELGA, Burkina Faso (AFP) — In poverty stricken Burkina Faso, a West African nation plagued by droughts, market gardening, the small scale production of fruit and vegetables as cash crops, is catching on.

"According to our calculations a market gardener can earn up to 200,000 francs CFA (300 euros, 465 dollars) a month in the right season," said agriculture ministry official Jeanne Zongo.

"Market gardening is very popular with farmers because there are no problems with finding buyers, especially for farmers close to the big urban centres," said Zongo, who coordinates the centre region for the ministry.

According to her more and more farmers are turning to market gardens, small plots of fruits and vegetables, because of the substantial revenues they can...