Barriers to women’s participation in farming in Mali

Good morning, Mrs. Namaoro Coulibaly.

Thanks for having me, and hello to all the listeners!

You are the regional chairperson of the Tchimporoko Co-operative of women farmers in Sikasso, Mali. Welcome.

We also have Mr. Mamadou Bassirou N’Diaye, an agricultural specialist. Welcome, Mr. N’Diaye.

Thank you. It’s a real pleasure to be with you. Good morning to all listeners.

Lastly, we have Mr. Adama Camara, an expert on gender issues at the Department for the Promotion of Women, Children, and the Family in Sikasso, Mali. Good morning, Mr. Camara.

Good morning! Thanks for inviting me to this program.

Without further delay, let’s get into the discussion. Mrs. Namaoro Coulibaly, can you tell me to what extent women are involved in farming in Mali?

This is a difficult question to answer because no formal studies have provided information on this subject yet. The exact percentage of women in farming is unknown. However, Act No. 52 on Gender Promotion and Access to Assignments and Appointments stipulates that 30% of all positions in all areas should be given to women, and 30% of government support should go to women.

This is well understood. Now, tell us if Malian women use agro-inputs!

Nowadays, the situation is somewhat better. Some women farmers use agro-inputs, but others do not. Those who do think that their yield has decreased and that with agricultural inputs, they can increase their productivity. Those who use chemical inputs are more focused on productivity. Some women farmers prefer to use organic inputs, such as organic fertilizer. They feel that chemical fertilizers make their products more perishable, whereas organic fertilizers allow their products to maintain good quality over a longer period. And they use organic fertilizers to meet the needs of some buyers who prefer to eat organic food for health reasons.

Do those who use chemical agro-inputs have ready access to these products?

Women farmers often can’t afford to buy chemical agro-inputs. First, they are expensive for us rural women. Currently, a bag of chemical fertilizer costs 11,000 FCFA (US $17.75). This was not the case in the past.

Subsidized chemical inputs are distributed to women’s co-operatives and organizations. To qualify to receive subsidized inputs, women must join a co-operative, and few women are members of co-operatives. Each year, registrations are open between February and April. Many women register and end up receiving only half the amount of chemical inputs they need. Those who are not members of an organization struggle to get even a minimum amount.

This is a big region and there are women everywhere. How many organizations do you have?

We have over one thousand co-operatives in the region.

You said that the quantity of chemical agro-inputs distributed was low. Is this because the precise number of women is unknown?

No. When they register, co-operatives must indicate the number of women members and the number of bags of chemical agro-inputs they need. Despite this, we are obliged to share the chemical inputs we receive between members in smaller containers.

Not everyone can receive a bag. The number of available bags does not allow it. Each year, every woman who is a member of a co-operative contributes to a fund. They use this fund to buy chemical inputs. So, every woman receives a portion. Those who have money find alternatives to get more inputs.

This year, co-operatives can buy a bag of chemical fertilizer at 11,000 FCFA. Also, some projects support women with bank loans to buy inputs. But women must pay back these loans, which is a problem for many women who prefer not to accept this assistance.

Let’s talk now about the use of these agro-inputs. Have you learned good techniques for using inputs?

Trainings were offered on producing and using organic fertilizers. But most women have not been trained yet. As for chemical agro-inputs, we have not received any training on using them. But I should mention that not all women use chemical agro-inputs.

Is there any difference between organic inputs and chemical inputs?

There is certainly a difference. Produce to which both organic inputs and chemical inputs are applied yield well. This is what some women do. Those who use only chemical agro-inputs make a good profit because of increased productivity. But their produce is difficult to store. And the taste is not as good as produce which has received only organic inputs. Those that were grown with organic inputs taste better and are easy to store, even if they do not yield as much.

What practical steps do you take to improve access to chemical agro-inputs?

So far, we have no way of doing this. We only make requests to the authorities, but we get very few responses.

Thank you, Mrs. Namaoro Coulibaly. I hope that the listeners learned a lot from you. Now, let’s go back to our agricultural specialist, Mr. Mamadou Bassirou. You have just listened to Mrs. Coulibaly. How do explain this difficult access to chemical agro-inputs?

The government gives subsidies to make it easier for women farmers to get chemical agro-inputs. But they must be part of an organization to be recognized as a working farmer by the government. They can receive these subsidies by showing the identification card they receive from their membership in a co-op or women’s group. This helps women farmers to enjoy the benefits provided to farmers by the government. This is why we encourage women farmers to register with regional agricultural councils.

Okay. Mr. N’Diaye, our farmer said that not all women have access to chemical inputs, including those who are not members of organizations. This slightly contrasts with what you are saying. What is your comment?

Chemical inputs are distributed proportionately, according to the size of the farmland. At the agricultural councils, there are people responsible for calculating the size of land used.

The government faces financial challenges, which hinders the distribution of chemical inputs. Otherwise, whether you are member of an organization or not, when you are registered, you should be able to get chemical inputs. The government is doing its best, but the real problem lies at the monitoring level. These chemical agro-inputs should be used rationally and wisely. Sometimes, you can see subsidized bags sold on the market. Sellers of these bags must be held accountable.

There is obviously a lack of chemical inputs. But there is also a problem with using them wisely as women farmers are not trained. And as Mrs. Coulibaly said, the use of chemical inputs may cause produce to rot more quickly. Is there an recommended technique for applying inputs?

Recently, we trained our farmers in agroecology. This approach respects biodiversity and typically repels pest without killing them. One agroecological practice consists of making organic fertilizer from plant debris, household waste, and ashes. This is applied to the produce to promote growth. We encourage women farmers to adopt agroecology. As well as organic fertilizer, they can use very small quantities of chemical fertilizers and get good yields. With the irregular rainfalls, we always promote the use of organic fertilizers. There is an extension service for these techniques, but the service lacks the resources to achieve their mission.

What about access to and use of chemical fertilizers?

Our techniques focus more on the use of organic fertilizers because people are aware of the impacts of chemical fertilizers, as Mrs. Coulibaly mentioned. Consumers are more demanding regarding the quality of the produce. They want organic produce.

Women also face issues such as limited access to extension services, training, and bank loans. How are these issues addressed?

Concerning the challenging access to land, women are increasingly forming organizations and co-operatives to advocate with landlords and decision-makers. The national agricultural framework stipulates that women should have access to 15% of farmland. This is starting to impact land acquisition.

The case of bank credit remains tricky. There is a need for high level advocacy so that the government can secure this possibility with banks or negotiate a reduced interest rate for women. But there is an alternative: the Support Fund for Women’s Empowerment and Child Development, known as FAFE. Another fund called Agriculture, Femme et Développement, or AGRIFED, is also available at UN Women. This fund signs contracts with NGOs to support women. So, these few resources are available for women. This might compensate for the difficult access to bank credit.

Thank you for these explanations, Mr. N’Diaye. We are turning to Mr. Camara, our gender specialist. Can we say that women are sufficiently represented in the agricultural sector today?

Yes and no. There is an agricultural framework act, which states that women should be entitled with 15% of developed land. But it is now obvious that women receive only small plots. There are no other mechanisms which enable women to farm as they wish. There is also a gap in terms of the distribution of chemical agro-inputs. Women don’t get enough chemical inputs because they only have small parcels of land.

In our societies, women have lower status than men. Even for the compost we make as a family, a large part belongs to men. To this we can add the level of illiteracy and the limited access to radio that discriminate against women. Radio serves to share results of research, facts and statistics, and agricultural guidance services. And few women attend local meetings with technical officers.

The lack of collateral and high interest rates at banks are both barriers to accessing bank credit. In order for the bank to give someone a loan, the loan applicant has to present an object of value as a guarantee. In case they fail to repay, this valuable object can be seized to repay the loan. But, as Mr. N’Diaye mentioned, there are other ways to get funding.

Usually, when women raise animals, the male animals belong to their husbands. Even when they want to sell the female animals, men are the ones who talk with buyers. This lack of decision-making power over the fruits of their labour is an important issue because these profits would allow women to invest in other projects they are passionate about. Men always control women and their properties.

The law stipulates that women be more involved in agriculture. Who is responsible for implementing this law?

It is the government! But, as Mr. N’Diaye said, there is no follow-up. This right is violated with no consequences. Women should file a complaint, but they are reluctant to do so. They fear discrimination.

As a specialist in gender issues, can you tell us if there are activists who advocate for this cause?

We conduct information and awareness-raising activities to help men support women to acquire land and agro-inputs. Some of our representatives participate in regular meetings held at traditional leaders’ places, which communities organize to discuss problems such as acquiring and distributing chemical agro-inputs or selling produce. During these community meetings, we talk about the importance of engaging women in agriculture. This can have an impact on the management of the household since men cannot do everything. When women have a source of income, they can support their family financially. Through the trainings we offer to co-operatives and women’s groups, we teach them how to better advocate with the government. And we encourage them to do so. Now, women participate in decision-making in some regions. And men are increasingly aware of the importance of engaging women.

What might be the consequences of this disparity in access to chemical agricultural inputs and land for women?

It affects women and society in general. It violates the economic rights and hinders the economic development of women farmers. When women are not financially empowered, they always rely on men. They must have permission from their husbands to go to prenatal or postnatal visits, and also money. This affects women’s health and the country’s economy. If women have no source of income, this can affect the quality of the family’s nutrition. If they have no financial resources, children’s needs for food, toys, medicines, and school supplies are not met. The community is also impacted. In markets and sales outlets, most customers are women. They contribute a lot to the local economy. And if women have low purchasing power, the whole economy suffers.

What can be done to change this situation?

We need to keep educating the community to change behaviour to favour gender equality and take into account women’s general and agricultural needs. The government must also rigorously work to minimize social inequalities and discrimination against women. We must provide our extension services with the capacity to help women gain access to farming techniques, be aware of their rights, and organize to better defend these rights. It is also necessary to negotiate reduced interest rates with banks. Lastly, we can continue to ask for the support of NGOs.

Dear listeners, we are at the end of this program. We thank you for your attention. To you, dear guests, thanks for taking time to be part of this program.

Let’s remember that the struggle to effectively engage women in agriculture is a long and continuing one. This issue impacts not only women but all of society.

The good news is that there is a law that guarantees women’s engagement and there are organizations that support women to learn new farming techniques. We hope that these services will fully play their roles so that women can be financially empowered.

This program was produced with Mrs. Namaoro Coulibaly, the chairperson of the Tchimporoko Cooperative, meaning “Brotherhood” in the Senoufo language. We also spoke with our agricultural expert, Mr. Mamadou Bassirou N’Diaye. And we will not forget our gender specialist, Mr. Adama Camara, also in Sikasso.

Thanks, and stay tuned for the next episode.