In December 2019, the SCS (Service Commercial Sylvain) Company and 2SCALE initiated the partnership on vegetable production, with the aim of supplying the urban market of Bamako with healthy and fresh vegetables accessible to all including low-income consumers. One year after the start of activities, the demand for quality fresh produce continues to increase. In fact, SCS provides improved seeds on credit to farmers with the expectation of getting quality products at harvest.
February 02, 2021
Providing a secured market for fresh vegetable farmers
To allow farmers to obtain these quality products, the business champion SCS and 2SCALE organized a series of training from the start of the partnership on good agricultural and post-harvest practices, notably through the installation of field schools. The monitoring of these activities is done by a business support service through its coaches based in the production areas.
Mah Diabaté is a young 30-year-old producer based in Kanabougou, about 20 kilometers from Bamako. Today, under a blazing sun, she clears the weeds in her plot of peppers. In two days, SCS's agents will be visiting her field for harvest. This time, it will be the fourth harvest in the same plot. Although the price of peppers is low during this period, Mah sells at least 10,000 FCFA ($18,35 ) per harvest.
In the past, she went to town to sell her products with all the hassle of the market. Having the buyer on site is a big advantage of this partnership, she said. In addition, training on technical production itineraries and the preparation of organic manure enabled Mah to significantly reduce the amount of chemical fertilizer she previously used in her production.
I mostly used chemical fertilizer in the production. But since the training on the preparation and use of organic fertilizer, I mainly use organic manure in my field. This is cheaper and allows me to have good quality products. At harvest time, SCS agents come to us and pay for the produce in cash. This is hugely beneficial for us. By personally transporting our products to the market, we pay additional costs for transport, and we have to buy food and spend money for other needs in the city.
In the farm of Mamadou Konaté, tomato harvest is in full swing. The seeds here, just as for Mah Diabaté, were provided by SCS. According to him, this is the sixth harvest in his plot. Each harvest can provide 25 baskets of tomato. One basket is sold at 7,500 FCFA ($13,76) on average. Although purchase of the products may vary depending on the market price, a pre-established agreement between the farmers and SCS makes it possible to maintain a balance at the time of sales.
Mamadou also believes that farmers involved in the SCS partnership are different from other farmers. He explains:
What now distinguishes the farmers involved in the SCS partnership from other producers is above all the advantages in terms of technical support and training. Access to quality inputs and a secured market are also advantages for us.
Like Mah Diabaté and Mamadou Konaté, SCS aims to include 15,000 farmers in its network, including 7,500 women and 6,000 young people by 2023 to produce and market 1,000 tonnes of fresh vegetables per year.
Read also: https://www.2scale.org/en/updates/supplying-bamako-s-market-with-local-fresh-vegetables-en