CNFA’s Agrodealer Strengthening Program for Mali (ASPM) is increasing rural incomes and reducing poverty by transforming Mali’s underdeveloped and fragmented input distribution practices into an efficient, commercially viable input supply system (Read more about the Agrodealer Model). Through the creation of links between commercial input companies and smallholder farmers, these farmers are benefiting from greater access to inputs, technologies, agricultural services and output markets. The three-year project, made possible by a grant from the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), has also strengthened Malian agrodealers by providing training in business management and productive farming methods, as well as increased farmer access to agrodealers in remote areas, ultimately raising rural incomes and increasing household productivity.

Working with its local affiliate created specifically for this project, the Mali Agricultural Marketing Trust (MALMARK), CNFA has certified over 830 agrodealers in business management skills. These agrodealers have also been trained in safe product usage and handling, product knowledge and crop husbandry practices, thus allowing them to not only provide inputs to smallholder farmers, but also to share knowledge on improved production practices through 800 farmer field days and exhibitions held in the country under ASPM. Over 34,000 farmers participated in demand creation activities hosted by major input supply companies in the country, who provided both inputs for demonstration plots and technical information on various crops. By the end of the project, ASPM will improve the agricultural productivity and incomes of 226,000 rural households affecting 1 million people in Mali, achieving a 30-percent growth in rural smallholder incomes and a 30-percent reduction in the average distance farmers have to travel to access agricultural inputs.

Building Agrodealer Capacity to Serve Farmers

In order to transform Mali’s agrodealer network into a self-sustaining enterprise, CNFA has taken a methodical four-step approach. The first component of ASPM is to strengthen the business and technical skills of agrodealers to better serve smallholder farmers. CNFA has developed and implemented activities including business management training, training in product knowledge and safe use of chemicals and fertilizers and generation of market demand for improved inputs through demonstration plots, exhibitions and farmer field days.

Improving Rural Access to Finance

Once agrodealers are equipped with the necessary business and technical expertise, CNFA then works to improve rural agrodealer access to finance, which is often difficult to obtain in rural areas due to the high cost of agricultural financing and high perceived risk by lending institutions. Specifically, CNFA has created guarantee facilities to stimulate increased access to trade credit and capital; developed agricultural lending training for commercial banks and microfinance institutions; created targeted agricultural lending products; and introduced competitive matching grants in order to initiate private sector investment to expand agrodealer services, particularly to jumpstart agrodealer enterprises in areas where none exist.

Connecting Farmers to Markets

After financing for inputs is in place, CNFA then works to increase smallholder farmer access to larger markets for distribution of their products. Specifically, CNFA has worked with agrodealers to develop and deliver basic output marketing training in order to increase farmer awareness of market opportunities and to help link them to existing market channels.

Advancing Agricultural Policy Advocacy

The last component of ASPM is to create a mechanism for sustaining a public-private policy dialogue. CNFA has maintained a leadership role in the policy arena, actively shaping Malian agricultural policy to promote the interests of private sector growth and of the rural smallholder farmer. CNFA has also supported the growth of the Agrodealers National Union in Mali (UNRIA-Mali), which recently received an endorsement from former-UN Secretary General Kofi Annan after he visited the project in August 2010. To ensure the successful operation of UNRIA, CNFA has provided training on organizational management, member services, networking and advocacy capacity building. While UNRIA is currently composed of eight member associations representing 500 agrodealers in Mali, CNFA’s goal is for UNRIA to represent all agrodealers in the country. This last component of MASP will ensure that the program is self-sustaining and continues to bring increased business for agrodealers and higher incomes for smallholder farmers.

Accomplishments to date:

• Over 830 agrodealers trained and certified in business management skills, already surpassing the original program goal of 820
• 800 farmer field days and exhibitions held featuring 34 supply companies and attended by over 34,000 farmers
• Over 200 agrodealers trained in output marketing services

Related Links

National Seed Exchange Highlights Agrodealer Program

CNFA Empowers Agrodealers in Mali

Program Overview: Agrodealer Strengthening Programs in Africa