Achieving financial independence through tomato production: the story of Awa Traore

Awa Traore, a mother with one child, has ventured into tomato farming for the first time in the village of Boidié, in the Barouéli zone of Mali. Previously, she had been farming tomatoes for 4 years in a women’s group before joining myAgro. Despite her experience, the group faced difficulties due to high fertilizer prices and the spoilage of their crops.

However, working with myAgro has solved these problems, as the quality of their tomatoes can be preserved well. “Before we used to grow a variety of tomatoes called N’garangani, which caused us a lot of problems, and we didn’t get to the end of the crop; everything spoiled very quickly, but with myAgro, we don’t have these problems. We don’t have any infections or rot,” she shared.

Awa is delighted with her harvest and is confident that the sale of her tomatoes will strengthen her business and support her family. She plans to use her profits to invest in other trades and boost her tomato trade. Additionally, she uses tomatoes for daily consumption in her family’s meals.

Although Awa was absent during the myAgro training, she learned how to make seedbeds and transplant tomatoes from other farmers. This allowed her to have an excellent harvest.

Moreover, she was grateful for the support she received from myAgro’s call center agent, who regularly called to offer advice and check on the condition of her field. “I also received calls from a call center agent named Fatoumata Sangaré to ask me about the condition of my field and also to give me practical advice,” she added.

Awa encourages other women farmers to try and tighten their belts to achieve results. “We have a love for agriculture. So we will continue,” she said.

Overall, Awa is satisfied with her experience with myAgro and urges other women farmers to join in and benefit from its support in achieving financial independence.