Promoting the nutritious value of fonio products in Mali

About the partnership

Mali

Staple Crops

Status:

Active

This partnership is led by two business champions, being UTC (Unité de Transformation des Céréales) and UCODAL(Unité de Transformation et de Conditionnement des Denrées Alimentaires), which are both fonio processing unions. These two processing companies have decided to combine their efforts and work with 2SCALE on strenghtening inclusiveness in the fonio sector through the marketing of quality nutritious products and the integration of women and youth in the value chain. The business idea of the syndicated partnership is to increase the quantities of fonio processedper year to be able to meet the growing demands in the market for fonio products. UTC wants to increase from producing 700 to 2000 tons of dehusked fonio per year, and UCODAL wants to increase the quantities of its processed products (fonio flour mixed with other ingredients such as cowpea, vegetables or peanut) from 95 tonnes to 250 tonnes.

About the business champion

Founded in 2010, UTC aggregates and dehusks paddy fonio for sales to off-takers. Based in in the industrial zone of San, region of Segou, UTC currently has a production capacity of 700 tons per year. It sources fonio from all over San circle and surrounding areas.
UCODAL was created in 1988 with the objective of enhancing the nutritional value of fonio. The company leverages over 30 years of experience in processing the fonio into various nutritious food products. UCODAL has 13 permanent employees and 17 temporary employees.

Key Interventions

Development of producer networks for the supply of paddy fonio

Establishment of a loyalty process between chain actors

Development of a system for the access to quality inputs

Implementation of improved and eco-efficient fonio production techniques and practices

Establishing effective marketing of quality nutritious fonio products to low-income consumers

Broker for access to finance for the actors of the partnership