News facts
Mali is committed to promoting a green economy with an emphasis on climate-smart agriculture and renewable energy. Yet current methods of crop conservation often lead to significant waste in the value chain, and weaken farmers' access to markets, reducing their revenues. The Climate Technology Centre and Network (CTCN) was therefore asked by an organization in southern Mali to identify renewable energy technologies and private investment opportunities for drying, processing and storing local produce in order to improve agricultural productivity and resilience. The resulting collaboration led to an effective technology solution, capacity building and more than 300,000€ in investment funds.
CTCN members, the Private Financing Advisory Network (PFAN) and ENDA Energie, identified a group of technologies for semi-industrial processing and storage of mango, tomato, okra and potato powered by solar energy, which will be disseminated in the region. Local stakeholders were then trained on developing a business plan and project documents (cash flow audit and redevelopment, finance structuring, etc.) as well as how to present a compelling case to potential investors. These efforts attracted 333,337 Euros in financing from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Regional Agency for Food and Agriculture.
The solar drying and storage technologies will increase shelf life of produce, while introducing considerable energy and cost savings, thereby increasing resilience and food security in a country which counts on agriculture for 45% its GDP.
This effort advances Mali’s Nationally Determined Contribution to prioritize development of a smart and resilient agriculture, including through the use of renewable energies and Sustainable Development Goals: