Adiaratou Sangaré is a livestock trader from Yanfolila, Mali, who has been perfecting her craft for over 13 years. At 37, this mother of six is a member of the Association of Small Ruminant Traders of Yanfolila,
Over the years, Sangaré has built trust with local breeders who provide her with animals on credit to be paid when they sell. She also trades on credit in other ways and has steadily expanded her business while covering household expenses.
Sangaré attended a Feed the Future Mali Sugu Yiriwa (prosperous market) fair in the town of Niena and immediately saw potential. She came to the Koumantou fair ready for business and was awarded the Sugu Yiriwa Best Buyer award, purchasing 558 heads of sheep and goat worth more than $57,000 (37 million FCFA).
As the Tabaski holiday approached and the demand for sheep and goats grew higher, Sangaré benefitted from increased prices at the fair in her hometown of Yanfolila and sold 478 of the animals for nearly twice her initial investment. This time she was awarded the Sugu Yiriwa Best Seller award in Yanfolila.
While not all of those who attend Sugu Yiriwa fairs operate at the same scale as Sangaré, the fairs offer all participants the opportunity to meet multiple buyers and sellers, augment their revenue, and diversify their client base. In just the past year, Sugu Yiriwa has worked with two thousand Malian women entrepreneurs to expand their businesses and generate hundreds of thousands of dollars in sales.
Sangaré is doing her part to help others. She is mentoring a new crop of young women agri-business entrepreneurs, providing hands-on training in price negotiation and animal quality assessment to three women who shadow her at the fairs. She is also expanding further and has created full time jobs for eight re-sellers and two laborers, as well as temporary jobs at peak times. She even provides sheep on credit for community events.
Sugu Yiriwa works for a vibrant agricultural economy to sustainably improve household income and the nutritional status of women and children. Women leaders like Sangaré are clearing their own path and inspiring others to follow. Reflecting on the fairs, Sangaré says, “Thanks to Sugu Yiriwa, I meet all my needs for quality animals without having to travel far away, which reduces my costs and maximizes profits. I was also proud to receive the Best Buyer prize in Koumantou. This grand gesture motivates me to continue participating in Sugu Yiriwa’s upcoming events.”
CNFA
CNFA
