Empowering Women Farmers in Senegal: The Story of Ami Thoune and the Sante Yallah Women’s Group

“Children cannot learn if they are hungry. It’s crucial that they have a full stomach and some money in their pockets in order to concentrate in school and not worry about going elsewhere to get either of these necessities. Since joining myAgro I have witnessed significant changes in my life. In the past, someone used to assist my children. Now,  I can provide for them myself and make sure their school fees are paid for on time. I can buy them school supplies and give them pocket money.  That’s the reason why we work hard and sweat on the farm.”

Ami Thoune is a mother of eight children and a community leader of the ‘Sante Yallah Keur Amadou Bakhoume’ women’s group from Mbourama village, Senegal. She has been a farmer for over 20 years and joined myAgro five years ago to overcome challenges with saving money for fertilizer and low farm yield. With myAgro’s support, Ami has transformed her life and positively impacted her community.

Ami is on a mission to empower women in Keur Amadou Bakhoum village to strive for a better future through agriculture. She leads a women’s savings group who saves money collectively to invest in myAgro inputs. “The group members work together to achieve their goals,” Ami shares, “and support each other in times of need. Everybody is united and going  in the same direction, being one, walking together, going to the field and working hard. That’s what makes me happy.” She continued 

In her first year with myAgro, Ami was able to significantly increase her group’s yield. Previously, the group had the means to cultivate and harvested 5 bags of bissap, but with myAgro’s finance saving solution, the Sante Yallah women’s group were able to plant one hectare land and cultivate 40 bags.

Ami recognizes the value of saving money for the future, particularly in regards to the education of the children in her community. “myAgro is really helpful because it allows us to save money.” Ami highlight’s. 

myAgro’s layaway model allows farmers to save for their inputs in small amounts over time, rather than having to come up with a large lump sum all at once. Ami explains that this system is beneficial to the community because it allows them to manage their finances more effectively and removes the burden of having to make large payments all at once.

“myAgro allows us to pay little by little, which makes it easier for us. If they came and asked me to pay for the entire package all at once, that would be difficult for us. But we can make payments in small increments. Whenever they come to collect money, I sit and wait for them to make payments.” 

Ami further emphasizes the importance of women’s participation in agriculture. It is a necessity for those who live in the village, she says. “If you’re a woman and you farm, you can do a lot for yourself. In the village, everyone must contribute.” Ami promotes that women should not only rely on their husbands income, but rather, they should too be independent and work beside them to satisfy their own needs and that of their families. 

Referring to myAgro’s delivery system, Ami explains “Before, we had to travel long distances to another village to get our fertilizer. Often, we had to walk many kilometers because it was hard to find a ride. That’s also why we joined myAgro. With myAgro, we can get our fertilizer with ease and without any problems.”

By providing access to financing, inputs and training, myAgro has enabled Ami and her community to increase their yields and improve their livelihoods. They no longer have to worry about traveling long distances to get fertilizer, and they have a steady income stream throughout the year from their harvest.

Moreover, the women’s group has become a source of strength and unity for the community. They work hard, share their strengths, and support each other in times of need. Through farming, they are creating a better future for themselves and their children.

Ami’s story cristalises that investing in smallholder farmers does have a significant impact on communities’ lives. By working with myAgro, Ami has been able to support her family and lead her community towards a brighter future.

Stay tuned as we share the story of these powerful women, whom we are honored to serve as we advance to reach 1 million farmers by 2026.