AWARD YEAR
2023
CATEGORY
Work
GOALS
Zero Hunger, Gender Equality
KEYWORDS
farming, agriculture, women in the workforce , women empowerment, Empower Women in Rural Community
COUNTRY
Mali
DESIGNED BY
Fily Keita
WEBSITE
https://vc4a.com/ventures/agrowomen/
Agrowomen
Empowering female farmers in Mali
How does it work?
Agrowomen adds value to local cereals and oilseeds by processing sesame seeds and making cold press and natural sesame oil, snacks, and tasteful rice. To further their impact, they choose women farmers’ cooperatives as key partners and contributors.
Agrowomen buys their raw material from women farmers and cooperatives and connects them to national and international buyers.
Why is it needed?
Across Africa, women are changing the face of agriculture by adapting and innovating to tackle the challenges of climate change and feeding the continent’s growing population. African women have proven to be actors along the entire agricultural value chain, as farmers, livestock breeders, food processors, traders, farm workers, entrepreneurs and consumers (reliefweb).
But even though women produce around 70% of Africa's food, they own only 20%of the land. Male farmers often hand their land down to their sons generation after generation, perpetuating this imbalance (Alliance for science). Therefore, empowering female farming still needs to be a focus.
How does it improve life?
The goal is to innovate and industrialise the field of processing by providing clients with high quality and natural products. Agrowomen contributes to food security and women’s economic empowerment through value addition.
Currently, Agrowomen are working with cooperatives in rural areas in the Segou, Kati, and Banamba regions.