Smartphones and solar chargers for sesame producers in Mali
Olvea Burkina Faso and ICCO Cooperation have handed over 20 smartphones and solar chargers to the union of sesame producers of Banamba, Mali.
All equipped with a management information system (MIS) application developed as part of the project, the smartphones allow to make better follow-up of producers and to check the traceability of organic sesame from production to marketing in Burkina Faso and Mali. The sesame producers also received a training session on the use of smartphones.
Strengthen sustainable and organic value chain
The smartphones are part of a public-private partnership project that aims to strengthen the sustainable and organic value chain of sesame while developing innovations in order to create sustainable livelihoods and strengthen the resilience of small operators. Sesame is an important cash crop for smallholder farmers with a very strong market demand. It can be grown on less fertile lands, making it a relatively low risk crop. The project targets 12,500 smallholders, a number which is expected to increase further after the project ends as smallholders can improve the quality and quantity of their production through introduction of systemic chain improvements.
Project info
The project is implemented in 5 regions of Burkina Faso and 2 of Mali by the consortium ICCO cooperation, Olvea Burkina Faso and Green Africa Burkina Faso. The project is funded by the Danish Development Agency, under the Danida Market Development Partnerships.