July 30, 2024

Development of inclusive business models in the soy value chain in Mali

Soy and Oil Seeds

Mali

2SCALE is more than just a development program; it is a dynamic initiative designed to incubate and accelerate the development of inclusive business models across African agri-food systems. By working with a diverse range of small and medium-sized enterprises and producer organizations in Africa, including partners from Mali and the Netherlands, 2SCALE aims to develop innovative partnership models that promote inclusion, build competitive advantage, and have the potential to scale up across the continent.

Public-private partnerships (PPPs) play a central role in implementing the program's objectives. These partnerships are essential to stimulate inclusive and sustainable economic development in agri-food chains.

Implications and successes of young people in soybean production

In Mali, an inspiring example of successful PPPs is the agreement between the 2SCALE program and Keitala Negoce (KN), signed in February 2021. This ambitious agreement aims to sustainably transform the soy value chain, guaranteeing the supply of quality soybeans and providing soy-based nutritional products to Base of Pyramid (BoP) consumers and poultry farmers.

Through this partnership, KN is committed to improving the supply of quality soy through a network of 18,000 small-scale producers, while ensuring access to soy-based nutritional products for over 20,000 consumers. This initiative was made possible thanks to the active involvement of young people in various links of this value chain.

Organised on 05 March 2024 in the town of Sikasso, the consolidation meeting between several young producers from Keitala Negoce's Agribusiness Clusters (ABC) was an opportunity to share enriching experiences, training and support received through the Business Support Service (BSS) to improve their yields and ensure their economic security.

Among these young people, Nestor Diarra, a passionate young producer, confides,

Thanks to 2SCALE's support and our intensive training, we've learned best farming practices that have significantly increased our yields. We used to struggle to make ends meet, but now we're confident about our economic future.

There is a flip side to every coin, and the young commercial players also outlined the many challenges they face daily. Nonetheless, they came up with several solutions that could help them strengthen their market presence and maximize their impact.

Competition is fierce, but thanks to our determination and creativity, we've found innovative ways to promote Keitala Negoce products. Initiatives such as online sales and village awareness campaigns enable us to reach a wider audience, while generating sustainable income,

shared Ahmed Diarra and Karim Ballo, young entrepreneurs in the soybean business.

The soybean chain, a useful value chain for women's economic empowerment

In Mali, women account for around 70% of the agricultural workforce, and this percentage is even higher in soybean production. In the Keitala Negoce partnership, women make up a large part of the agricultural workforce. They are involved in soil preparation, sowing, weeding, harvesting and transporting soybeans.

The journey of two young women entrepreneurs, who have acquired key skills thanks to training workshops organized through the 2SCALE program, demonstrate the crucial role of food processing in women's economic empowerment.

Aichata Traoré and Aissata Ouattara, two young women soybean producers and processors, talk about their experiences in the food processing industry.

These training courses have been a real turning point in our lives. We acquired food processing skills that enable us to operate within the Keitala Negoce company as processors of nutritious soy by-products. Today, we are proud of our work, contributing not only to our families, but also to our communities,

notes Aichata and Aissata.

Women traditionally process soya into by-products such as tofu, tempeh and soymilk, increasing the added value of the product and boosting household food security, especially for low-income households.

Despite their significant contributions, women in Mali's soybean value chain face many daily challenges in the course of their work, such as limited access to resources, disproportionate workloads, and acts of discrimination and marginalization that often limit their opportunities to make a profit.

Capacity-building workshops such as those provided by the 2SCALE program through BSS facilitates young people's and women's access to credit, markets and information, and stimulate their commitment to entrepreneurship as a means of increasing their income.

Together towards a promising future

The meeting with young people from this PPP highlighted the successes and challenges faced by young players in the soybean value chain. Thanks to innovative partnerships such as the one between 2SCALE and KN, youth and women have been able to access economic opportunities and contribute to the sustainable development of their communities. By consolidating the gains, they have made and proposing solutions to the challenges they have identified, these young entrepreneurs and women are now well positioned to continue to prosper in terms of sustainability.

Share this update: