Assa Sanogo is a 66-year old smallholder farmer from the village of Monzomblena in Mali. In addition to engaging in the production and processing of agricultural products including groundnuts, Assa is also the President of the women’s group, comprising 223 members, in the Production, Post-Harvest and Agro-Processing (PHTC) at Monzomblena, Dioila Region, Kerela Commune, Mali.

As a result of training administered by SAA on improved farming practices and technologies, Assa and her colleagues have seen their technical and operational capabilities greatly improve. "I was impressed with the technologies SAA encouraged us to test and adopt. At first I was reluctant – especially with the new variety of groundnut flower 11 brought for demonstration by SAA – as the first responsible for the women of the village. But, time proved SAA right after an initial agricultural test campaign,” Assa comments, “I was impressed by the quality and quantity of the harvest within our community. As SAA's goal is to help ensure food security in our community, after the adoption of the variety, they have helped us in its transformation, especially as groundnuts is the food base in our community.”

In addition to training farmers on good agricultural practices, SAA also helped obtain a groundnut processing unit consisting of a sheller, roaster and groundnut pulp mill. Additional training ensured smallholder farmers are fully knowledgeable in using the equipment safely and efficiently.

“Over a two and half month period of activity, we processed 500kg of grain groundnut into 75 container paws. With a starting amount of 450,000 XOF ($786.70 US), we generated a revenue of 175,000 XOF ($306 US). In terms of capacity building of the members of the group, SAA has done more than I can say, but it includes good agricultural practices and groundnut paws processing both in quality and quantity, notions of cooperative entrepreneurship in agriculture, agricultural cooperative business management, business plan development process, concept of partnership, marketing and contracting.

“We are truly grateful and delighted with the training we received, as it has enabled us to manage our own business better, and to ensure financial profitability. Thanks to SAA, we have seen our revenues and livelihoods greatly improved.”

Voices from the field