Buwatun Area Program

The Bwatun community is located in a rural area of eastern Mali. The community was founded about a century ago by families searching for farmland. Different areas of the community consist of a group of families united under the authority of a common chief. The land is generally flat, interrupted by some small cliffs in the north, hills in the south, and a plateau in the centre. The area is crossed by some waterways, but most of these are seasonal.

Most people rely on agriculture for their livelihood. Families struggle to grow crops in the infertile clay and sandy soil, which is depleted from hosting the same crops over and over. Grains, including sorghum and millet, are the most common food crops, and peanut is the main cash crop. However, farm yields are poor and families face frequent food shortages and chronic poverty. With no local income opportunities, youth feel compelled to migrate to cities during the off-season, looking for temporary work.