In Burkina Faso, the rapid desertification of once fertile plains caused droughts and ruined harvests, sparking a mass exodus of inhabitants and famines that decimated populations. Yet one illiterate peasant farmer and his ingenious farming methods have proved the key to achieving what experts have failed to do: stop the desert. This documentary tells the unique story of Yacouba Sawadogo, whose years of toil have transformed the lives of thousands.