Empowering Women Through Entrepreneurship and Soilless Agriculture

Aug 30

2 min read

The agriculture we used to know is changing. As communities face growing challenges related to land availability, climate variability, and access to productive resources, new approaches are creating fresh possibilities for how food can be produced and how livelihoods can be strengthened.

Through the Rural Development Program of Leading Change Africa, we support farmers and young people across West Africa. Women are not left behind in this effort — access to knowledge, technology, and entrepreneurship can open new pathways for them to participate more actively in the agricultural value chain. It's within this context that the program organized an online training on Women's Entrepreneurship and Soilless Agriculture, held on August 1, as part of our yearly Rural Development Program.

Learning Across Borders

Thirty-five participants from Burkina Faso and Mali spent about two hours online together, creating a space for learning, discussion, and exchange across borders. Rather than focusing solely on technique, the training connected agricultural innovation with entrepreneurship. Participants were introduced to the principles of conservation agriculture and soilless agriculture while exploring how these approaches can contribute to more sustainable production and livelihood development. The session gave participants a chance to think differently about agricultural production — how new systems can respond to existing challenges while creating room for economic participation.

Discovering the Potential of Soilless Agriculture

One of the key areas explored during the training was soilless agriculture — an approach that allows crops to be grown without relying on traditional soil-based production. For participants, the discussion offered an introduction to how alternative production systems can open up possibilities, particularly where access to suitable land or other resources is limited. Just as important, the training encouraged participants to see soilless agriculture not only as a production technique, but as a potential business.

By connecting agricultural innovation with entrepreneurship, participants were encouraged to consider how new production methods could support income generation and livelihood diversification.

Cultivating a More Sustainable Future

The Rural Development Program of Leading Change Africa continues to explore ways to equip communities with knowledge and practical tools that support more sustainable, resilient livelihoods. Training women in agriculture and entrepreneurship is part of that broader effort. When women have greater access to knowledge and opportunity, they can find new ways to participate in economic activity, strengthen their livelihoods, and contribute to their communities' development

Training at a Glance:

35 participants
2 countries: Burkina Faso and Mali
2 hours of online learning
Key themes: Women's Entrepreneurship, Conservation Agriculture & Soilless Agriculture

From Learning to Action

The journey doesn't end with the training. The real impact lies in what participants do with what they've learned — whether that means experimenting with new agricultural practices, exploring entrepreneurial ideas, sharing knowledge with others, or encouraging more women to join the agricultural value chain.

Through initiatives like this one, Leading Change Africa continues to create spaces where knowledge becomes opportunity and learning builds stronger, more resilient communities. When women are equipped with the knowledge and confidence to explore what's possible, the impact reaches far beyond the training room.