IICD supported project: Sene Kunafoni Bulon

Countries: Mali [ML]
Sectors: livelihoods

Summary

IER-TRANS is a branch of Mali’s national Institute for Agricultural Research (IER) that focuses on the transformation chain of products like mangos, onions, potatoes, etc. The regional bureau of IER-TRANS was set up in Sikasso in 2002. Over the past four years it has established close relationships with organisations of mango producers and mango transformers and the Federation of Potato Producers. In response to requests made by its members, it looks up information on production and transformation methods and passes it on to them. The project will improve the flow of information to and from IER-TRANS and between farmers in the region.

Update

Updated: 2008-02-04

The fact that the three involved farmers organisations now have an office with ICT equipment has hugely contributed to the organizational development and the visibility of these organisations. During 2007, the centre in Sikasso has become a focal point for both individual farmers, organisation members and agricultural extension organisations. In that perspective, the centre has improved the opportunities of the organisations to participate in agricultural fairs, and to develop contacts with potential clients and supporting organisations.

The improved access to market prices has contributed to a more informed position of the mango producers in their negotiations with traders, resulting in a net increase of the kilo price for mangoes of 5 FCFA per kilo in 2007. On a total production of 6500 tonnes in 2007 for URPM, the total extra income has been 32,5 million FCFA (48.500 €). It is to be seen whether the same result can be achieved in 2008, but it is an important indicator of direct empowerment of the producers via access to information.

Via the support of the project, numbers of individual transformers in Sikasso have been able to participate in a small entrepreneur contest, funded by the Assemblee Regionale de Sikasso. Five of them received startup funding of 2,5 million FCFA (3750 €) per person.

Introduction

Budget

84.250 euro.

Project Owner : IER-TRANS is a branch of Mali’s national Institute for Agricultural Research (IER).