“As a myAgro vendor, you have to serve as a model to the farmers in your village. You have to share with them your experiences with myAgro and treat farmers with respect.” – Oumar Diarra
This week close to 50 myAgro vendors took part in half-day training sessions to learn about the myAgro model and discussed their role as vendors. MyAgro vendor specialist Mamadou Toure led the trainings, which were held in both Dialakorba and Ouelessebougu districts.
At the trainings, each vendor received a myAgro keychain with images that explained the myAgro model. The vendors’ training on the myAgro model followed the images on the keychains, which show myAgro scratch cards, the delivery of high quality inputs, agricultural trainings, and a large harvest. With the aid of the keychains, vendors were able to visually see the various steps in the myAgro model, and the end result of a large harvest.
Vendors also received training on their role as myAgro vendors. As vendors, they play an important role in the myAgro model by encouraging farmers to enroll, selling scratch cards, and sending SMS savings payments. In order to help vendors sell more scratch cards, they received training on how to speak to farmers about the benefits of myAgro and how to motivate them to buy more scratch cards. They also received training on how to use their myAgro keychains to help visually explain the myAgro model and benefits to farmers.
Vendor Assistant and myAgro farmer of 3 years, Oumar Diarra, also shared his personal story with the vendors. He spoke of how myAgro’s high quality inputs and training helped him achieve his largest harvest to date. He then spoke of his experiences as a vendor assistant. He told vendors that they have to serve as examples for their villages by enrolling as myAgro farmers and saving early. By being able to personally talk about his own personal experience with myAgro, he said that he is better able to motivate farmers to buy more savings cards. Afterwards, Diarra led vendors in a lively discussion, where they shared stories and techniques they use to encourage farmers to save more with myAgro.
