{"id":10849,"date":"2026-11-09T15:01:00","date_gmt":"2026-11-09T15:01:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cordaid.org\/en\/?p=10849"},"modified":"2026-11-09T15:17:59","modified_gmt":"2026-11-09T15:17:59","slug":"vegetable-growers-in-mali-find-strength-in-collaboration","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cordaid.org\/en\/news\/vegetable-growers-in-mali-find-strength-in-collaboration\/","title":{"rendered":"Vegetable Growers in Mali Find Strength in Collaboration"},"content":{"rendered":"
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In southern Mali, 20 vegetable cooperatives have agreed to pilot sales contracts worth almost a quarter of a million euros in just six months. By planning ahead and selling collectively, small-scale growers in Sikasso and Bougouni are gaining the bargaining power that individual sellers rarely have.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Farmers are packing harvested sweet potatoes for transport to Mali’s capital, Bamako. Photograph: Amadou Keita\/Cordaid<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

For small-scale producers, marketing remains a major challenge. When crops are ready for harvest, each producer often tries to sell on their own. Volumes are small, and their influence on the price is limited.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Green Innovations for the Intensification of Vegetable Production project, known as IVICM, aims to change that. Implemented in Mali by Cordaid and Caritas Switzerland<\/a>, in collaboration with local partner Agri-Vision Sahel<\/a>, it seeks to make vegetable value chains more competitive, inclusive and resilient. Its work on marketing harvested produce has already delivered tangible results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In April 2026, 20 producer cooperatives, wholesalers and processors began discussions to match supply with demand. The talks led to pilot sales contracts worth 235,000 euros, with 172,572 agreed in Sikasso and 62,809 in Bougouni.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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‘Now, we harvest at roughly the same time and sell together. We no longer have to go out and look for buyers on our own.\u2019<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Anticipate Demand and Plan Production<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The contracts also mark a change in how producers approach the market. Rather than waiting until harvest to find buyers, they can now anticipate demand and plan production accordingly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Habi Sylla, a vegetable producer and cooperative member, has seen the difference firsthand. \u2018Selling collectively is very different from selling individually,\u2019 she says. \u2018It helps us increase our income.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Habi Sylla at her cabbage farm in Sikasso. Photograph: Amadou Keita\/Cordaid<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Before the project\u2019s support, producers tended to sell individually and in a hurry. \u2018As soon as we had harvested, we would rush to sell,\u2019 says Sylla. \u2018Now, we harvest at roughly the same time and sell together. We no longer have to go out and look for buyers on our own.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Working together saves producers time and, above all, puts them in a stronger position to secure a better return on their harvests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fairer Terms for Small-Scale Growers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Abdoulaye Sylla, a vegetable producer and Village Agricultural Adviser in the same cooperative, points to a problem that small-scale growers know well: on their own, their volumes are rarely large enough to give them leverage in price negotiations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2018We had noticed that those who produce large quantities find it easier to sell, whereas those who produce smaller quantities face enormous difficulties,\u2019 he says. \u2018Their produce often ends up being bought at absurdly low prices. Selling collectively is the only way we can negotiate better prices.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Abdoulaye Sylla, vegetable producer and Village Agricultural Adviser. Photograph: Amadou Keita\/Cordaid<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Better prices for the cooperatives are only part of the aim. The approach also seeks a more balanced relationship between producers and buyers. \u2018They can now reach better agreements on quantities, quality and prices,\u2019 he adds. \u2018Both sides benefit, and we can work together over the long term.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n

More Structured Commercial Relationships<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

With these pilot contracts, the project is laying the groundwork for more structured commercial relationships between producers and buyers in Sikasso and Bougouni. The next task for the cooperatives is to consolidate these partnerships and keep collective selling going beyond the pilot phase.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n

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