Burkina Faso: Grain Processing & Storage
Burkina Faso: Grain Processing & Storage
Burkina Faso Humanist Women group
Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso
Members: Zuri Bijal, Farah Jama, Hodan Ismael, Khadija Omar, Khadijah Dahuud, Nadia Ouedraogo, Yasmina Kone, Zainab Idris , Rahma Aliyu, Hafsa Usman
What does humanism mean to you?
For us, humanism is the deep conviction that we have the power and responsibility to improve the human condition through reason, compassion, and sustainable action. It means valuing human life, dignity, and practical problem-solving over dogma or reliance on the supernatural. In our community, humanism drives us to empower local farmers and individuals through cooperative labor and shared resources. It teaches us that morality comes from empathy and our shared humanity. By working together to build sustainable agricultural systems, we demonstrate that reason and solidarity can directly solve our community's challenges, ensuring dignity, food security, and self-reliance for all, regardless of their religious background.
Project Description
Following the successful execution of our initial agricultural and composting initiatives, our collective is preparing for a large harvest of staple grains in the coming weeks. To manage this unprecedented yield, the Burkina Faso Humanist Women group is seeking a $1400 grant to establish essential processing and storage infrastructure. Currently, manual threshing is too labor-intensive and results in significant post-harvest losses, while leaving the grains exposed to the harsh elements risks spoiling our entire yield.
This project will utilize the funds to purchase a multipurpose grain thresher and construct a large, secure storage barn built from sturdy wooden planks and traditional, heat-resistant thatched roofs. The multipurpose thresher will allow our members to efficiently process large volumes of grains (such as sorghum and maize) in a fraction of the time, preserving the quality of the harvest. The plank and thatch barn will provide critical, well-ventilated storage, protecting the processed grains from pests, sand, and extreme heat.
Our farm operates as a cooperative workspace where each member contributes labor and shares in the profits. Once constructed, the barn will serve not only as a storage facility but as a central hub for our humanist collective to meet, organize, and distribute our produce. The processed grains will be sold in local markets, ensuring food security in the region. By mechanizing the threshing process and securing our harvest, this project will dramatically increase our efficiency, reduce physical strain on our members, and establish a highly sustainable, independent source of income that will fund our ongoing humanist educational outreach.
Budget
Multipurpose Grain Thresher (Electric/Gasoline powered for staple crops) – $1199
Heavy-duty wooden planks, timber, and structural support beams for barn construction – $75
Natural thatched roofing materials, bamboo supports, and securing nets – $50
Hardware (nails, hinges, metal brackets) and basic carpentry tools – $50
Transportation of machinery and building materials to the Arta region farm site – $25
Total: $1400
Expected Income from Project, with Timeline
The project is expected to be fully set up within 2 to 3 weeks, arriving just in time for the upcoming large grain harvest. The construction of the plank and thatch barn will take approximately one week of cooperative labor, while the thresher will be procured and delivered concurrently. Once the harvest is processed and safely stored, the collective will begin selling the grains continuously to local vendors and markets. We anticipate generating $300–$400 per month from bulk grain sales. Additionally, we plan to rent out the multipurpose thresher to neighboring farmers for a small fee when not in use, adding an estimated $50 per month in secondary income. This revenue will be reinvested into maintaining the machinery, purchasing seeds for the next planting season, and supporting the collective's community projects.
Benefits to our Community
Dramatically reduces post-harvest grain losses and physical labor through mechanized threshing.
Provides a safe, weather-resistant storage facility to ensure year-round food security.
Creates a reliable and substantial source of income for the humanist collective.
Offers affordable threshing services to neighboring farmers, improving overall regional agricultural efficiency.
Demonstrates the power of cooperative, reason-based planning and strengthens solidarity among humanist members in Burkina Faso.