Modou Sowe Hopes to Build Youth Involvement in Sustainable Agriculture
Modou Sowe was born to a farming community called Wellingara Village in the Gambia. He was among the lucky children of farmers with the opportunity to be educated.
After completing his high school education in 2004, Sowe realized how ever-increasing livestock theft has affected farmers in the Gambia and even forced them to sell the herds.
Determined to make a change, he organized his fellow youths to combat the problem by forming a small community-based organization for shepherd and livestock owners association. He’s now part of the National Livestock Owners Association, where he serves as secretary general. Sowe also is youth coordinator for a national coordinating organization for farmers associations in the Gambia.
In 2018, he was selected to participate in a yearlong leadership training program by the McCain Institute for International Leadership in the U.S. and specialized in farming.
Sowe hopes to increase youth participation in the agricultural value chain of the Gambia through youth empowerment opportunities, economic development and national food security by establishing the first no-till organic farm academy that will train, support and motivate youth farmers.
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Here are some highlights from the interview with Sowe:
- Background on his agricultural work in the Gambia.
- His experience with Singing Frogs Farm, no-till farming and its implications for climate change and the conditions for farming in the Gambia.
- His insights on what he believes is most needed for the Gambia’s people and land.
LIFT Economy is an impact consulting firm with a mission to create, model and share a locally self-reliant economy that works for the benefit of all life.
B the Change gathers and shares the voices from within the movement of people using business as a force for good and the community of Certified B Corporations. The opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the nonprofit B Lab.
Spreading No-Till Farming in the Gambia was originally published in B the Change on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.
