Nonprofits & Activism

A Transparent, Easy Way for Smallholder Farmers to Save | Anushka Ratnayake | TED

A safe space to save money is life-changing — especially for the 60 million smallholder farmers in West Africa (the majority being women) who often live on less than two dollars a day. Poverty fighter Anushka Ratnayake introduces her non-profit myAgro, which offers farmers a place to save small amounts of money and allows them…

Published

on

A safe space to save money is life-changing — especially for the 60 million smallholder farmers in West Africa (the majority being women) who often live on less than two dollars a day. Poverty fighter Anushka Ratnayake introduces her non-profit myAgro, which offers farmers a place to save small amounts of money and allows them to access those funds as they need them. Over the next five years, myAgro plans to reach a million farmers in West Africa, providing a stress-free, transparent and convenient system that empowers agricultural entrepreneurs by putting the purchasing power it takes to run a successful farm in their hands.

This ambitious plan is a part of the Audacious Project, TED’s initiative to inspire and fund global change. Watch all the talks from this year’s cohort at

If you love watching TED Talks like this one, become a TED Member to support our mission of spreading ideas:

Follow TED!
Twitter:
Instagram:
Facebook:
LinkedIn:
TikTok:

The TED Talks channel features talks, performances and original series from the world’s leading thinkers and doers. Subscribe to our channel for videos on Technology, Entertainment and Design — plus science, business, global issues, the arts and more. Visit to get our entire library of TED Talks, transcripts, translations, personalized talk recommendations and more.

Watch more: go.ted.com/anushkaratnayake

TED’s videos may be used for non-commercial purposes under a Creative Commons License, Attribution–Non Commercial–No Derivatives (or the CC BY – NC – ND 4.0 International) and in accordance with our TED Talks Usage Policy (). For more information on using TED for commercial purposes (e.g. employee learning, in a film or online course), please submit a Media Request at

51 Comments

  1. R V

    May 7, 2022 at 11:03 am

    Spread Love & Peace from the Philippines 🇵🇭🕊️

  2. Serious Motivation

    May 7, 2022 at 11:04 am

    *true* *incident* ➡️ *today* *is* *my* *birthday* *but* *i* *don’t* *have* *money* *to* *celebrate* *my* *birthday* *i* *am* *working* *on* *youtube* *since* *2* *years* *but* *my* *videos* *is* *not* *getting* *views* *but* *iam* *still* *working* 🙏 *dear* *reader* *who* *is* *redaing* *this* *we* *don’t* *know* *each* *other* *but* *i* *wish* *and* *pray* *to* *god* *that* *you* *and* *your* *all* *family* *always* *be* *happy* *in* *your* *life* *and* *yours* *all* *dreams* *change* *into* *reality* *as* *soon* *as* *possible* *thanks*

  3. Aspartame69

    May 7, 2022 at 11:09 am

    She could eat less of the produce?

  4. Scarlett Zoe•🛍️🧶

    May 7, 2022 at 11:12 am

    My life has totally changed since I started an investment of $ 6,000 and now earning over $ 57,000.

    • Chelsea Griffiths

      May 7, 2022 at 11:25 am

      Who’s this professional , everyone is talking about ? I always see her post on top comment on every YouTube video I watched I’m interested how can I get in touch with Mrs Angelia Marie Brown ?

    • regards marry

      May 7, 2022 at 11:27 am

      I’ll leave her number just below this comment👇🏿👇🏿👇🏿

    • regards marry

      May 7, 2022 at 11:27 am

      美美国෴十𝟷𝟻𝟶𝟾𝟻𝟿𝟷𝟻𝟷𝟶𝟼෴美美国

    • regards marry

      May 7, 2022 at 11:27 am

      That her watsap 👆🏿👆🏿 Tell her I referred you,Trade with her and remember to share testimonies with others .

    • Chelsea Griffiths

      May 7, 2022 at 11:27 am

      @regards marry Thanks for the recommendation , I just contacted her and she attends to me nicely☺️.

  5. Get Your Life Better

    May 7, 2022 at 11:19 am

    One of my favorite talks so far! I love The way she conveys her messages, and how she speaks slowly but shaped. What an immersive speech!

  6. one of those guys

    May 7, 2022 at 11:19 am

    This seems like globalism where they say they are helping the small farmers, but in reality, they are just taking a cut of these poor people who live on small margins.

    • Average Joe

      May 7, 2022 at 3:55 pm

      Welp, that’s capitalism for ya mate, pure unadulterated hypocrisy 🤷🏻‍♂️

  7. Salty_SuperSpreader

    May 7, 2022 at 11:28 am

    UM YEAH..LETS TALK ABOUT FARMS AND PLANTS BEING BLOWN UP AND LIT ON FIRE..AND WHY ON THURSDAY’S. HOW BOUT BLACKROCK AND GATES STOP BUYING UP ALL TJE FARM LAND

    • Salty_SuperSpreader

      May 7, 2022 at 11:30 am

      WOW..AS I TEXT THAT…JUST GOT NOTIFICATION..IT WAS NEWS ON COKE BLOWING UP..

  8. Melanie Gluuck

    May 7, 2022 at 11:33 am

    The general Currency market have paved way for many but the questions investors/traders ask themselves now is, if this is right time to invest? before jumping into conclusion i think one should evaluate things first. for weeks the price of cryptocurrencies have been fluctuating which means the market is currently unstable. while others are being patient and waiting for price to skyrocket, i continue to trade without the fear of making lose. it all depends on the pattern with which you trade and also the source of your signals. My crypto portfolio is currently up at 7.4 BTC, 45% higher than my old balance. I was able to do this using copy trading system from a US regulated trader, Greg Yichen. Trading on margin offers you the opportunity to make large profits from a relatively small investment irrespective of the market volitivity…Greg got it all

    • Arnone Hannah

      May 7, 2022 at 11:40 am

      Investing with a professional trader is the best mate.

    • Genevieve Whaley!!!@Foundation

      May 7, 2022 at 11:41 am

      I Met Greg Yichen first time at a meeting in Las Vegas early 2019, His teachings on trading is fascinating.

    • Genevieve Whaley!

      May 7, 2022 at 11:41 am

      I Met Greg Yichen first time at a meeting in Las Vegas early 2019, His teachings on trading is fascinating.

    • Jenna Baxter

      May 7, 2022 at 11:42 am

      I’m also a subscriber of his signal’s, and if I were to rate their accuracy I would say 91%..

    • She's Illuminated 😇😇

      May 7, 2022 at 11:43 am

      When I saw testimonies all over youtube about Greg, I thought it was made up until I gave him a trial. I’m so glad I trusted my instincts.

    • She's Illuminated 😇

      May 7, 2022 at 11:43 am

      When I saw testimonies all over youtube about Greg, I thought it was made up until I gave him a trial. I’m so glad I trusted my instincts.

    • kaja googoo

      May 7, 2022 at 3:03 pm

      No risk there! How you go from security to having a farm sale in a week to cover your margin call when they screw with the market for no other reason but they can.

  9. Alien Alias

    May 7, 2022 at 11:48 am

    The real horror of shows like the Adams family and the Munsters is that on occasion the actors would go meta and reveal that they knew it was just a fantasy . Then they would acknowledge reality and turn from it . They preferred the illusion. That’s why they were monsters. Everyone prefers the illusion. As far as can be known you either fully embrace the raw world or you embrace the illusion. If you choose both your survival becomes limited.

  10. Freelancerthoughts

    May 7, 2022 at 11:48 am

    Amazing speech 💬 easily understand I’m content creator on YouTube

  11. Gaasuba Meskhenet

    May 7, 2022 at 12:09 pm

    so many different idiots racing for space while they could be racing to solve this kind of problem and leave the space experts to colab at NASA and such

  12. Wild Beasts

    May 7, 2022 at 12:26 pm

    Good to see you again 🇱🇰

  13. Фёдор Урусов

    May 7, 2022 at 1:35 pm

    judging by her size, it’s clear why she wants to help farmers produce more food xD

    • Average Joe

      May 7, 2022 at 3:53 pm

      Not funny dude

    • 🇬█ 𝔎𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑒𝑚 𝔎alisari│

      May 8, 2022 at 6:29 am

      😎☝️😎

  14. Bert Visscher

    May 7, 2022 at 3:36 pm

    I’m happy for all the people who made the progress they did, but why did they even need money? Please check out The Venus Project.

    • Davin Liuz

      May 7, 2022 at 4:06 pm

      Can you recommend me a video from them that relate to this video?

  15. Emmanuel John

    May 7, 2022 at 4:09 pm

    Hello
    Anybody need help with their assignment ?

    • Emmanuel John

      May 8, 2022 at 6:34 am

      Ask for my contact or website

  16. Ernesto Dialogo

    May 7, 2022 at 4:23 pm

    Yes PH 💙 is Power 🔋 make sure ALL the 🌎 Question my ❤ Salute 🌹🐱🦋🐦😇😇?

  17. Jennifer joy

    May 7, 2022 at 5:58 pm

    Putting our time and affort in activities and investments that yield a profitable return in the future is what we should be aiming for

    • Aurora Sebastian

      May 7, 2022 at 6:54 pm

      I really appreciate the amount of work you put into compiling all this data and presenting it for us in an easily consumable manner.
      thank you as always Lopez James much appreciated

    • Ricardo Hugo

      May 7, 2022 at 6:57 pm

      I agree with all your points,it did go active on Canada’s largest exchange today

    • Patricia Mark

      May 7, 2022 at 7:00 pm

      It is amazing we love you ❤️

    • Pavl Flores

      May 7, 2022 at 7:43 pm

      @Adrian Lux I’m surprised you mentioned and recommended Mr Lopez James.well I don’t have much to say about him but I know that ever since I have been Trading with him. he has been amazing broker.all thanks to you Mr Lopez James I am so happy hearing everyone speaking about your Trading strategy. this also give me more confidence in you Mr Lopez James ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

    • Clinton Davison

      May 7, 2022 at 8:46 pm

      @Pavl Flores When someone is straight forward and good at what he or she does, people will definitely speak of them, for me I would say give Mr Lopez James financial education a try and you will be happy you did

  18. Tim Cliffe

    May 7, 2022 at 6:40 pm

    Why do Ted talks equate to loads of people listening (aka religion) and loads of people being submissive?

  19. 𝑴𝒓𝑩𝒆𝒂𝒔𝐭

    May 8, 2022 at 3:16 am

    I respect Everyone who are involved in this. Seriously the best piece that I’ve ever seen on YouTube. HATS OFF TO YOU ALL LOVE YOUR VIDEOS❤️❤️

  20. Mr Beast

    May 8, 2022 at 3:16 am

    I respect Everyone who are involved in this. Seriously the best piece that I’ve ever seen on YouTube. HATS OFF TO YOU ALL LOVE YOUR VIDEOS❤️❤️

  21. MrBeast1

    May 8, 2022 at 3:16 am

    I respect Everyone who are involved in this. Seriously the best piece that I’ve ever seen on YouTube. HATS OFF TO YOU ALL LOVE YOUR VIDEOS❤️❤️

  22. Bano Williams

    May 8, 2022 at 3:21 am

    Jesus loves you he died on the cross for your sins. Believe in him and you will be saved and go to heaven!

  23. Bastispark

    May 8, 2022 at 4:40 am

    why is she that fat? 🤔 Isn’t that cubby talking about stuff that doesn’t even affect her?

  24. TOM RIDDLE

    May 8, 2022 at 5:09 am

    Hey Anushka🇱🇰 .. Amazing speech.. Glad to hear a Srilankan name in TED space.
    In 🇱🇰 my country farmers are suffering. Government and the officials ruined our agriculture.
    You are a great asset to our country.
    I wish you can educate our people and extend your agrocredit program in our country too.

  25. 🇬█ 𝔎𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑒𝑚 𝔎alisari│

    May 8, 2022 at 6:28 am

    We
    have a RESPONSIBILITY to join TOGETHER on behalf of the world that we seek
    — a world where extremists no longer threaten our people🌏!.

    When long as we are denied our security by CRIMINALS,

    who PREY on our communities 🌏,

    and who do VIOLENCE against our ♀️# WOMEN and CHILDREN.


    TODAY: 🇺🇳
    United Nations | الأمـــــمُ المتّـحــــدَة
    has a dual RESPONSIBILITY:

    That experience guides my conviction that partnership between 🇺🇳
    United Nations | الأمـــــمُ المتّـحــــدَة and Islam
    MUST be based on what Islam is,
    not what it isn’t√.

    Thank you.
    And May God’s peace be upon you | TED!.

    Thank you very much.
    Thank you.
    *****

  26. Day that Fallows

    May 8, 2022 at 3:46 pm

    Why the always compare living to USA 2 dollars a day…it doesn’t make no difference…..here bread is 5$ there bread it 2cents….what they have to make 100$ per day and still pay for bread 2 cents…it is ficken annoying….low intelligence….

  27. sunnyinvladivostok

    May 8, 2022 at 7:50 pm

    Sra Anushka,
    You’ve done amazing work in helping these people advance their lives and those of their posterity. Thank you!
    One question I thought of, however, is: how will a farmer, who can only save cents, be able to afford a smartphone? In the examples, it sounds like they were given a phone, meaning these activities are heavily subsidized. So, will the amount that farmers can save as an outcome of this exceed the investment that goes into the program? If not, perhaps we should also be considering alternative approaches to raising their quality of life. But if so, well done!!
    Anyway, in any case its problem better not to listen to an armchair nobody like myself. Thanks for getting up and actually doing something to help these people, its so valuable.

  28. Toni

    May 8, 2022 at 10:38 pm

    This is what farming is all about.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Trending

Exit mobile version