Jèkafo Guèlèkan means “let’s speak together under the palaver tree”. The aim of the project is to set 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. With help of information and communication technology (ICT) rural dwellers – both producers and processors –can learn about opportunities for improving their economic situation and to help them take advantage of such opportunities. Rural dwellers often have no access to information and communication tools that enable them to get answers 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 project will help to facilitate information sharing among CRCR officers at all levels, create awareness on the part of agricultural producers of the role and activities of CRCR officers, create awareness of the value and importance of the CRCR, increase the visibility of the CRCR, reduce the operating costs owing to reduced travel by CRCR officers, facilitate the producers who want to take part in the debates over rural development policy, pool synergies to raise awareness of producers’ problems, and mobilise local resources to provide specific services.

IICD will support the project by means of providing the necessary 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.

For more information on this project in French, go to Mali NTIC