December 01, 2022

Alleviating hunger and malnutrition in Mali through soybean value addition

Staple Crops

Mali

Saturday, November 26, 2022 will remain a memorable day for the population of Kénédougou (green city), nickname given to Sikasso, the third region of Mali for its agricultural wealth. It is in this city that there was the launch of soy products processed by our business champion Keitala Négoce.

Today in Mali, soybean cultivation is gaining momentum, not only creating new opportunities for local producers, but also making a significant contribution to household food security, especially for vulnerable households. Soy is a rich food that can help Mali eradicate hunger and malnutrition. That is why the government of Mali's ambition is to support its production from 14,000 to 100,000 tons per year within five years.

Chaired by the Minister of Handicrafts, Culture, Hotel Industry and Tourism, and the Minister of Rural Development, this ceremony brought together all the local and customary authorities of the city of Sikasso and surrounding areas. It was under the sound of the balafon, an emblematic musical instrument of the region, that the delegations were welcomed in the municipal stadium.

In Malian culture, skits are used as a vehicle for conveying important messages about society. While laughing, the comedians manage to raise awareness and pass on lessons. It is within this context that the business champion, Keitala Négoce, engaged a local comedy troupe to present a play in which the nutritional values of soybeans are highlighted, while encouraging households to adopt this product in their dietary habits. The show was well received by the audience.

One product, two departmental qualifications

After the performance of the comedy troupe, the two ministers present each gave a particular name to the soybean. For the Minister of Rural Development, soybeans can now be called "Kabako sô", which means "miraculous soybeans", while for his counterpart in charge of handicrafts and culture, they can also be called "So Dja", which means "happiness in the family". In fact, in a passage of the skit, soybeans helped ease the tension between a greedy husband and his wife, hence the name "So Dja" given by the Minister.

In his speech, the Minister also stressed the Malian government's commitment to supporting the soybean sector.

I would like to assure you of the unfailing support of the Government of Mali, which will spare no effort to accompany all actors in the production and promotion of soybeans and its by-products for a rich and varied diet for the benefit of the Malian population.

According to him, the launch of soy products is part of the policy of revival of the agricultural sector initiated by the government through the development of the agro-food processing sector.

Speaking on behalf of the 2SCALE consortium, the IFDC Country Director, Moussa Dionou, praised the presence of the Malian government alongside 2SCALE in the implementation of its activities, while highlighting other benefits of soybean production.

Beyond its nutritional value, soybeans are also used in livestock feed and their production contributes to enriching the soil. For this reason, we encourage the production of soybeans as a rotational crop on arable land. I reiterate our thanks to the government of Mali which is always present at our side in the implementation of our development approaches.

Soybeans for the benefit of women and youth

With a global objective of reaching 1.5 million low-income consumers by 2024, including 150,000 in Mali, the 2SCALE program's strategy to improve access to nutritious food for the population at the base of the pyramid concerns 20,000 consumers with soybeans and soy products alone, within the Keitala Negoce partnership in Mali. Thus, the increase in marketing around this product and its high demand stimulates this product and offers a new opportunity to small scale farmers who are investing massively in this crop. In addition, soybean processing presents an opportunity to reduce unemployment among young people and women. This is an effective way to fight against poverty, especially among the most vulnerable populations, i.e. young people and women.

Advocacy for the promotion of Keitala products

In order to encourage public authorities to invest more in the promotion of soybeans, Fatoumata Coulibaly, BoP Marketing Specialist of 2SCALE in Mali, took the opportunity to make a plea to the authorities in attendance to introduce the adoption of soybeans in school canteens in order to increase its consumption.

Tasting of the products and visit of the processing unit Keitata Négoce

To close the launch day, the delegation was invited to a tasting session of processed soy products. Soy milk, brochette, couscous and fortified soy flour, as well as soumbala (traditional culinary ingredient) were presented to the public. After the tasting, the authorities visited the site that houses the processing unit of the company Keitala Negoce. A plant that struggles today to meet the great ambition of processing of the business champion, having a stock of over 100 tons of soybeans, for lack of technical and financial resources.

Surely, the presence of the two Ministers on this day will facilitate the relaunch of the plant for more processing of soybean products.

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