Reinventing the shallot sector for sustainable food security

Challenge

Although smallholder farmers make up 80% of the workforce in Mali, many still struggle to earn a decent living from their work. Incomes remain low, access to technical training is limited, and market opportunities are hard to reach. The shallot sector — with its promising annual production of 200,000 tonnes — is a clear example of this challenge. Harvests often arrive all at once, flooding the market with a perishable product that is difficult to sell due to a lack of proper storage facilities. Farmers also face restricted access to quality inputs and have little resilience to climate change, leading many to overexploit natural resources in a bid to maintain their yields.

Innovative solution

Agrolight is committed to driving the sustainable transformation of the shallot value chain in Mali. Its strategy focuses on giving farmers access to high-quality agricultural inputs, which are repaid in kind at harvest time, while securing a guaranteed market outlet and helping to boost their incomes. Through regular technical support — including training sessions and a demonstration farm — Agrolight supports small-scale shallot producers in the Office du Niger region, encouraging a shift towards agroecological practices and the use of more sustainable organic inputs. The shallots are then processed into crushed cubes, a compact format that makes packaging, storage, and transport easier, opening up new commercial opportunities in local and regional markets.

Impact

• 155 new producers have joined Agrolight’s programme, bringing the total to 655 producers, 70% of whom are women
• Producers’ average annual incomes have increased by 30%
• Use of chemical inputs has been reduced by 25%, replaced by more sustainable organic alternatives