The significance of women’s involvement in agriculture is deeply ingrained in Fatou’s convictions. “Women’s active participation in agriculture is paramount for the harmonious functioning of society, as the responsibilities at home cannot solely rest on the shoulders of men.”
While visiting her parents’ village, Fatou Thiaw, a 32-year-old mother of one, came across a gathering in the public square. She enquired what it was about and discovered that an agricultural training organized by myAgro was taking place. Recognizing the importance of farming practices in rural life, Fatou participated and listened. The training agent’s compelling presentation left a lasting impression on Fatou, fueling her eagerness to join myAgro. “That day, I was filled with enthusiasm to be a part of myAgro,” Fatou Shared.
Already familiar with the success stories of myAgro farmers as word spread through the villages. Fatou’s decision was reinforced by the training she witnessed. However, with limited access to cultivable land, Fatou purchased myAgro’s poultry package that day, embarking on poultry farming. The poultry package was tailor-made by myAgro for women farmers like Fatou, who found themselves with limited or no land access but still had a passion for agriculture.
Fatou understood that agriculture could provide an additional source of income for her family. She envisioned the benefits expressing, “I would no longer rely on my husband’s assistance to pay the water and electricity bills.” Furthermore, she emphasized that she could support her child’s education by generating the necessary funds for schooling expenses.
Fatou faced various challenges previously to joining myAgro: such as limited funds for purchasing fertilizers during the winter months and a lack of training in modern agricultural techniques. However, over time, Fatou has saved up little by little for successful harvests, because of the access she received with myAgro’s financial saving solution that also provides training as well as agricultural inputs as part of every package.
Fatou and her family have experienced a significant improvement in their quality of life. Fatou has gained complete confidence in her abilities to enhance both her own life and the lives of her family members. Last season, she took the initiative to expand her farming efforts by incorporating cattle and sheep into her enterprise, further enhancing their farming activities. Fatou had expressed her aspirations to venture into cattle and sheep farming, and thanks to the income generated from her previous harvest, she was able to successfully fulfill this goal, leading to an improved life for herself and her family.
By reaching out to women in rural villages and equipping them with the essential tools and knowledge required to succeed in agriculture, myAgro helps uplift women smallholder farmers who typically lack access to these services, like Fatou, from poverty.
