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Mariama Dia, a Senegalese entrepreneur transforming local fruits into natural retail products

February 12, 2023 Melanie Hawken

Mariama Dia, founder Delices Casamançaises (Senegal)

Startup Story

Mariama Dia is the founder of Delices Casamançaises in Senegal. She is married and the mother of two children, and holds a masters degree in geography. Being from Casamance, which is a forest region located in the south of Senegal, she witnesses every day the destruction of fruits resulting from overproduction. This is what led to her decision to launch her business, Delices Casamançaises with the aim of transforming the fruits to allow consumers to enjoy 12 months of the previously only seasonally available fruits.



Mon non est Mariama Dia, mariee et mere de 2 enfants. J’ai un masters en geographie. Etant originaire de la Casamance qui est une region forestiere se trouvant au sud du Senegal, j’assiste tous les jours a la destruction des fruits issue de la surproduction. C’est ainsi que j’ai decide de fonder Delices Casamançaises et de transformer les fruits ce qui permettra de consommer 12 mois des fruits jadis saisonieres.

LoA spoke to Mariama Dia about her passion for her business and for creating opportunities for others in her community and country.

What does your company do?

We transform local Senegalese products into syrup, jams, preserves, powders, dried fruit, instant juice, Thiakry and couscous.

On transformes les produits locaux du senegal en sirop, confitures, conserves, poudes, fruits sechee ,jus instatanee, thiagry et coyscous.

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“Entrepreneurship is in me, I like to create, lead, innovate, take risks, it's my adrenaline.”

“We want to grow, find new partners, improve our productivity, create new jobs and export outside of Africa.”

What inspired you to start your company?

It is the reproduction of my green region, Casamance.

C’est la reproduction de ma verte region la Casamance.

Why should anyone use your service or product?

It is the originality, the work well done, and the quality of our products.

C’est l’originalite, le travails bien fait, et la qualite de nos produits.

Tell us a little about your team

We are a young team made up of 90/100 women.

Nous sommes une equipe jeunes compose de 90/100 de femmes.

Share a little about your entrepreneurial journey. And do you come from an entrepreneurial background?

Entrepreneurship is in me, I like to create, lead, innovate, take risks, it's my adrenaline.

L’entreprenaria est en moi, j’aime crer, diriger, innover, prendre des risques c’est mon adrenalines.

What are your future plans and aspirations for your company?

We want to grow, find new partners, improve our productivity, create new jobs and export outside of Africa.

On veut sagrandir, trouver de nouveaux partenaire, amelior notre productiviter, crer de nouveaux emplois et exporter en dehors de l Afrique.

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“You have to dare to dream, be pragmatic, believe in them, and then go for it.”

What gives you the most satisfaction being an entrepreneur?

The creation of jobs and the fact to be able to participate in the development of my region, of my country.

La creation d’emplois et le fait de pouvoir participer au developpement de ma region, de mon pays.

What's the biggest piece of advice you can give to other women looking to start-up?

You have to dare to dream, be pragmatic, believe in them, and then go for it.

Il faut oser rever, etre pracmatique, croire en elles, et puis foncer.

Contact or follow Delices Casamançaises

FACEBOOK | EMAIL lesdelicesdelacasamance@gmail.com


Why LoA loves it….

Extending the value chain of local natural ingredients native to the African continent is critical to future economic development, and women entrepreneurs hold one of the keys to achieve this goal in local communities. Mariama Dia is one such entrepreneur, seeing the value of extending the local fruit production value chain by turning it into other high value consumer products. She is brand building, creating high quality retail products that people want to buy and eat. Not only that, but she is creating jobs too. This is real impact at work. — Melanie Hawken, founder & ceo, Lionesses of Africa

In Startup Story Tags Senegal, Food & Drink
← Conflict of interest under the spotlightNyambura Munyua, a social entrepreneur passionate about improving the lives of vulnerable community knitters →

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