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At a time when a lack of financing and technical skills were hampering the growth of the poultry sector in Mali and most other West African countries, a retired commissioner, Yaya Sangaré, is mobilizing enough capital, equipment and manpower to supply the local market with poultry today.

Located on the outskirts of Bamako, the Malian capital, Yaya's poultry farm has around 6,000 chickens, most of which are "Wassachiè", a local species much appreciated by Malian producers and consumers. Wassachiè" means "chicken of satisfaction" in Bambara, the most widely spoken language in Mali.

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Reducing poverty and improving food and nutritional security remain major challenges in many countries of West and Central Africa, where around 40% of children under the age of five suffer from stunted growth.

According to the FAO, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, increasing consumption of eggs and poultry meat has beneficial effects for humans. However, consumption of poultry products remains a luxury in most countries in sub-Saharan Africa, despite the fact that animal protein requirements are very high.

Why "Wassachiè"?

One of the objectives of the West African Agricultural Productivity Program (WAAPP), created in 2008, was to propose innovative solutions to boost agricultural productivity, in order to reinforce food and nutritional security for the region's populations.

In Mali, as part of its work to generate and disseminate innovative technologies to improve people's living conditions, PPAAO took the option of popularizing the "Wassachiè" after in-depth research had demonstrated the exceptional genetic properties and improved characteristics of this species, making it a unique breed capable of boosting the local poultry sector, while contributing to the nutritional security of Malians.

Compared with other chicken breeds, experts say that the "Wassachiè" is more resistant to disease, more nutritious, tastes better and produces more eggs than other local poultry breeds. The adult female lays between 160 and 170 eggs a year, compared with 60 to 80 eggs a year for other local breeds.

Winning the competition for "cheap" braised chicken

Despite the benefits, the adoption of "Wassachiè" has not reached the desired levels where ordinary citizens can buy it and further improve their nutritional security. This is due in part to the relatively high cost of "Wassachiè" chicken, according to the president of an association of "Wassachiè" producers in Bamako.

While many agree that it is relatively better in terms of nutritional value and adaptation to the local environment, the adoption of this species by the general population has not yet reached the expected levels.

Malians are used to broilers costing between 1,700 and 2,000 FCFA (US$4) each, compared with 3,500 to 3,700 FCFA (US$7) for a "Wassachiè" chicken," says Yaya.

The enthusiasm of "Wassachiè" producers could be the best alternative for ensuring its competitiveness in a market hitherto dominated by broiler producers and consumers.

"Despite its high cost, we still see the ''Wassachiè'' as the future of the poultry industry in Mali, in that it offers a tremendous opportunity to provide highly nutritious chicken to our population,'' according to PPAAO Mali.

We hope that the government will be able to provide us with subsidies," explains Moussa Maguiraga, president of the Wassachiè chicken producers' cooperative in Bamako.

What the current high demand for "Wassachiè" tells us is that consumers appreciate the taste despite the price.

Most of the orders he receives from hotels and restaurants in and around Bamako require Yaya to supply them exclusively with "Wassachiè".

"When the Loft restaurant in Bamako, for example, places an order for chickens, they insist that it be 'Wassachiè' and nothing else," explains Yaya Sangaré, who adds, "when I tell them I don't have enough, they insist that I get some from other poultry producers.

Could the innovation platform unlock the challenge of large-scale production of "Wassachiè"?

Recognizing the need for greater popularization of the "Wassachiè" chicken,PPAAO Mali is exploiting the potential of innovation platforms to facilitate the adoption of production in the country's major regions such as Koulikoro, Sikasso and Ségou of this species.

Innovation platforms bring together players in a particular value chain. In our case, we bring together players in the production of the maize from which poultry feed is made, as well as women's groups, since most "Wassachiè" producers are women," asserts M'pie Bengaly, head of innovation platforms at PPAAO.

Could the innovation platform solve the problem of access to credit and the participation of young people and women?

In Burkina Faso, innovation platforms offered an opportunity for engagement and dialogue between cowpea producers, women and credit unions. Through these platforms, credit unions learned more about the potential of cowpeas and the possibilities of investing in them. Having had this clear information, they could easily grant financial loans to groups of women producers.

In Mali, innovation platforms can be opportunities for players to get more involved and boost the sector to the expected level.

In Kolokani, in the Koulikoro region of Mali, peanut and sorghum seed producers came together with credit cooperatives and bankers on one of our innovation platforms. Trust was established between the various members, and problems of access to credit began to be resolved.

Not much to start with

Retired Yaya Sangaré could be close to a billion FCFA (2 million USD) invested today. But he maintains that he started with a few houses on a relatively small plot of land. While he acknowledges that growing his business requires significant financing, land, infrastructure and other inputs, those looking to get started shouldn't be put off by this level of investment.

A source of inspiration for others, after what he has achieved

Most of my employees, who are women and young people, have asked me to pay them in kind. So at the end of the year, they take chickens equivalent to their salary for the whole year, which enables them to start up their poultry farms," says Yaya.

What I've also said to others is that you don't necessarily need so much infrastructure and money to start your farm. With about 200 chicks, the land and the right mindset, you can get started," he concludes.