Jèkafo Guèlèkan project

Jèkafo Guèlèkan means “let’s speak together under the palaver tree”. The project is concerned with setting up a communication system for agricultural producers belonging to the CRCR, which comprises 215 local organisations (of which 115 are women’s organisations), and other stakeholders in the development of the Sikasso region.

The ultimate goal: to make information and communication technology (ICT) available to rural dwellers – both producers and processors – so that they can learn about opportunities for improving their economic situation and to help them take advantage of such opportunities.

Rural dwellers face a problem of communication and information on questions concerning laws and regulations, projects and programmes, technological innovation, the experiences of producers in the various producing areas of the region, trends in cotton production, etc.

The launch ceremony was attended by the regional authorities, the leaders of the regional farmers’ organisations, development partners interested in rural affairs and a large crowd.

Bakary Diarra, chairman of the CRCR, took the floor to remind participants of the principal goal of the project: to resolve problems of information and communication, as well as of producers’ participation in the formulation and implementation of rural development policy at the regional and national levels.

The project seeks, among other things, to address a concern for communication evoked in article 194 of the agricultural reform law (loi d’orientation agricole), which explains the satisfaction expressed by the permanent secretary for this law, who presided over the opening ceremonies on behalf of the minister of agriculture.

The IICD, the financial partner of the project, was represented by its country programme officer for Mali, François Laureys. The IICD provided the IT equipment, training in its use and the Internet connection. The equipment comprises ten computers, a digital camera, a digital video camera, a video projector and headphones, as well as solar panels for local sections that have no mains electricity.

François Laureys declared that he has observed that ICT can be a powerful tool for people engaged in a development process.

He also pointed out that the IICD supports other projects in the Sikasso area: Senèkunafoni, CRCR and the Karité Plus project of the economic interest group Fuilema. He hopes that these projects will be mutually reinforcing in the years to come.

Mr Laureys continued: “I have already seen some results, despite the fact that the projects started up only a short time ago”.

“Some women involved in the projects take photographs, since it is necessary to document project activities to give them visibility and win over other donors. This is reinforcement from the grassroots. I am glad to see that we have succeeded in mounting complementary projects, after some three years of work to find a better way to provide an information and communication system to give farmers a stronger voice through communication between the Ministry of Agriculture and farmers’ organisations. If this works, it will bring many advantages”.

The five-year project should promote: facilitation of information sharing among CRCR officers at all levels, awareness on the part of agricultural producers of the role and activities of CRCR officers, awareness of the value and importance of the CRCR, increased visibility of the CRCR, reduction of operating costs owing to reduced travel by CRCR officers, facilitation of the organising of producers to take part in the debates over rural development policy, pooling of synergies to raise awareness of producers’ problems, and mobilisation of local resources to provide specific services.

The cost of the project amounts to 67,435,000 CFA francs.

Before the end of the project launch ceremonies, the permanent secretary for the agricultural reform law gave a detailed presentation of the law to inform participants of its provisions. The partners involved in implementation are the Ministry of Agriculture, the IICD, the Sikasso regional Association of Farmers’ Organisations (Association des organisations paysannes professionnelles – AOPP), the national AOPP, the national coordinating body for farmers’ organisations (Coordination nationale des organisations paysannes – CNOP), the Regional Assembly, the Sikasso Regional Chamber of Agriculture, local technical departments and local radio stations.

Filifing Diakite