Oumar Traore has been a part of myAgro’s field team since 2012, when he started out as an intern during the planting period. Through hard work and passion for the mission, Oumar moved up to become a Field Agent in 2013, and later was promoted to Field Supervisor. Now, he is the Field Coordinator of the Bancoumana region in Mali, and an example of one of myAgro’s many inspiring staff members.
In this interview, Oumar explains his experience over the past 5 years with myAgro and how he finds motivation through his work.
Q: Why do you work with myAgro?
A: Primarily because myAgro is helping farmers. And there is no discrimination. Here, there are people of all different races working together because they have the same goal. At myAgro, they don’t just look at your diploma, they look at your competence and motivation. They have trust in the employees.
Q: How did you get to where you are today? [Field Coordinator]
A: As an intern up until now, I worked hard and received a lot of support from supervisors and coordinators, Dembele, and Anushka.
Q: What advice do you have for someone who wants to become a Field Coordinator?
A: To become a Field Coordinator, you have to be promoted. They don’t just take someone randomly and make them a coordinator. It’s not easy, but you have to work hard and reach all of your objectives.
Q: What are the most important qualities needed to be successful in this role?
A: I have to love what I do, and stay positive and motivated. That way, when people see you, they want to do the same. You have to have contact with everyone.
Q: What is the most important thing you’ve learned through your work with myAgro so far?
A: How to sell to farmers and take part in meetings. I was a little timid at the first meeting, but I’ve learned how to express myself in front of people and to have a good relationship with people.
Q: What is your proudest accomplishment?
A: Motivating a village where there wasn’t a lot of motivation. I kept telling the farmers to enroll with myAgro and finally got the village leader to enroll, which led to enrolling 60% of the village in one day.
Q: What are some changes you’ve seen over the past 5 years you’ve been with myAgro?
A: I’ve seen a lot of changes with our farm families thanks to myAgro. Farmers tell me, “Thanks to you, I can now buy ___,” so I can see I’m having a big impact on farmers. The first year, there was no precision planter. All zones have their own offices now, so we no longer have to travel to Bamako for Monday Meetings. We used to enroll farmers using paper forms, but now use mobile applications.
Q: Any specific farmers you remember?
A: I remember one myAgro farmer who said that it’s been 30 years since he’s seen a harvest that big, and he said it was thanks to me, Oumar. That touched me a lot and encouraged me to be even better.
Q: Describe myAgro in three words.
A: “L’espoir des producteurs” (Hope for farmers). We help the farmers in all our plans and activities—trainings, materials, fertilizer and seed and storage.
