Musa Sowe, Second Vice President of ROPPA (Network of Farmers’ and Agricultural Producers’ Organizations of West Africa) and Africa representative in the International Planning Committee for Food Sovereignty (IPC), has long been at the forefront of grassroots agroecological movements. Speaking from the Global Forum for Food Sovereignty in Kandy, Sri Lanka, he shares how agroecology has reshaped lives in his community, from farming practices to power structures.
“Agroecology promotes economic viability and is a solution where farmers can define, determine, and engage in production without extra cost, because they use the natural environment—reducing the amount of fertilizer that is needed.”
You often say agroecology is more than a way to farm. What has it changed in your community, both in food production and in people’s relationships?
I want to think that agroecology can transform the way we live, not just how we farm. It’s an all-inclusive approach that challenges injustices rooted deeply in our culture and many others, especially against women, youth, and people with disabilities. By using natural methods and minimizing external inputs like chemical fertilizers, we reduce costs and improve the environment. We’ve seen how biodiversity improves, how soil fertility returns, and even how health improves. Crop pollination from bees and butterflies becomes more stable, and people eat food that’s free from toxic chemicals.
Agroecology can also impact social dynamics: how does it intersect with women’s rights in your experience?
In rural areas, women produce over 70% of what we eat, yet they often have no access to land, inputs, or tools. Without land, you can’t farm. Without tools, you can’t produce enough. And when women don’t have a voice in decision-making platforms, their rights are ignored. Agroecology changes this. It promotes inclusive governance and considers social issues as much as environmental ones. We’ve organized campaigns around land access, and we’ve succeeded in having land titles transferred to women’s cooperatives or even individual women. Some youth groups have also benefited. It’s not just about inclusion for show; it’s about correcting systemic injustice. We say: these are not privileges, they are birthrights.
How do you practice food sovereignty without depending on agro-industrial systems? Have you built local markets or alternatives?
Food sovereignty allows us to decide what to produce, how to produce it, and how to distribute and consume it, all in ways that respect our culture and dignity. We don’t need to follow the corporate model. We organize through growers’ associations, cooperatives, or even informal farmer networks. Distribution can happen at weekly markets, through direct exchange, or within organized farmer-to-consumer systems. But challenges remain: lack of storage facilities, bad roads, and even policies that are not farmer-friendly. Another barrier is social norms. In many communities, women are restricted from traveling to markets to sell their goods. So we also work on changing those norms, ensuring that women and youth have the right and capacity to participate in every part of the food system.
What does it mean to “eat well” in your community, and how do you ensure that right for all, especially the poorest?
To eat well means to eat nutritious, clean food that supports your health and your dignity. It’s not just about filling the stomach. Agroecology moves us away from monoculture and processed food. We grow a wide variety of crops, each bringing different minerals to the body. And they’re free of chemical pesticides and synthetic fertilizers.
Can you share an example of your campaign and advocacy work in the Africa Region?
Yes, one powerful example is around land ownership. In many places, women were not allowed to own land. We’ve campaigned, and now we’re seeing lands registered in the names of women’s groups and youth collectives. That’s a real shift. Another example is integrated production: livestock are part of the system. Their waste enriches the soil. The crops grow better, the harvest is healthier, and the people eat better. We are promoting this approach as we don’t want to accpet corporate “solutions” that only benefit a few. We are building our own solutions, from the ground up.