The transition from millet cultivation into processing of infant flours: a testament to determination and perseverance
Rain-fed agriculture predominates in sandy soil and valley regions, relying heavily on rainwater. This traditional farming method, practiced on family-owned plots, suffers from low fertilizer use, pest pressures, and rudimentary equipment, resulting in precarious yields.
In the Dosso locality, approximately 139 km from Niamey, the story of a millet processor serves as a beacon of hope for the community of Falwel, a rural commune in the Loga department, situated 75 km north of Dosso.
Through her dedication and entrepreneurial spirit, Zaliya Idrissa, 35, transformed a simple millet harvest into a thriving business, generating employment opportunities and enhancing community livelihoods. She pioneered the processing of millet into dêguê* and infant flour.
Zaliya, a mother of three, inherited her passion for millet production from her experienced farmer parents.
She recalls,
The idea of processing millet emerged amidst challenges stemming from poor harvests and participation in numerous training sessions facilitated by the 2SCALE program under the millet partnership.
She recounts the transformation of her business, which, thanks to promotional campaigns organized by the 2SCALE program, witnessed exceptional growth. Within three weeks, she sold 50 sachets of 500g dêguê and 60 sachets of 500g infant flour at 500Fr per unit. Zaliya emphasizes that these campaigns not only boosted sales but also established her company's brand image, leading to requests for dêguê production at cooperative meetings. Zaliya Idrissa continues to represent her community at various fairs, seminars, and international exhibitions of agri-food products.
As a passionate advocate for cereal cultivation and processing, especially millet, Zaliya observed the challenges facing her community in processing and marketing millet crops. This motivated her to embark on entrepreneurship, aiming to alleviate these challenges.
In addition to millet processing, Zaliya expanded her endeavors to include the transformation of peanuts into oil and legumes, as well as cowpeas into flour.
The journey to success and financial independence
In the initial stages of her venture, Zaliya invested her personal savings to acquire millet processing equipment. Through perseverance and dedication to mastering quality transformation techniques, she successfully implemented them, collaborating with fellow women in her village. Zaliya's products gained popularity, with demand steadily increasing. She emerged as a role model for women in her community, inspiring them to pursue entrepreneurial ventures.
Zaliya proudly remarks,
A beacon of hope for job creation
Zaliya's success has generated employment opportunities within her community. She engages local women and unemployed youth, imparting processing skills and providing them with a stable income source. This financial independence has empowered them to take control of their lives and support their families. Zaliya's business employs 30 young women across three teams, providing them with permanent employment. Recognizing her impact, various organizations have sought Zaliya's expertise to train young women in millet processing techniques. She has been invited to share her experiences with other entrepreneurs, including 30 young women from the Tibirka locality in the Dosso region.
Furthermore, Zaliya's success has catalyzed economic growth in the region, providing a significant market outlet for merchants and producers, resulting in a substantial increase in millet product sales.
Despite her achievements, Zaliya Idrissa faces significant challenges, including raw material scarcity and high costs during certain seasons, as well as a lack of modern processing equipment. Additionally, expanding her product reach to national, sub-regional, and international markets remains a formidable task.
Overall, Zaliya Idrissa's journey exemplifies the transformative power of female entrepreneurship in driving economic growth and community development in Niger.