Fast Track Workplan 2012 – Mali Status of research execution & planning

Africa RISING: Sustainable Intensification of Cereal-Based Farming Systems in the Sudano-Sahelian Zone

Fast Track Workplan 2012 – MaliStatus of research execution & planning

1Africa RISING M&E expert meeting - Addis Ababa

Fast Track Workplan reportables – Sept. 2012Outcomes, outputs (# of activities) – Mali

• O1. Sustainable increased of whole-farm productivity– o1.1. Integrated crop and livestock production systems

developed, evaluated, and effectively delivered to end users (7/10)

• O2. Improved on- and off-farm natural resource management– o2.1. Improved nutrient cycling and water use efficiency (0/1)

• O3. Reduced vulnerability of target population (esp. women and children) and farming systems to adverse environmental and economic changes– o3.3. Input and output market access for male and female

farmers expanded to increase household income (0/1)


Fast Track Workplan reportables – Sept. 2012Outcomes, outputs (# of activities) – Mali (contd)

• O4. Increased nutritional and economic levels of the target population, especially women and children– o4.1. Desk study of key nutritional and food safety issues

of the target population (0/2)– o4.2. Capacity building and awareness campaign on

nutrition issues for the target population (1/1)– o4.4. Evidence based dietary strategies for target

population developed, tested and communicated (1/1)

Reporting on 9 of 16 activities


a1.1.1 Diagnostic survey of organizational and institutional issues: land-use, NRM including forest, livestock and crop production systems

• System components: crop production , livestock production, agro-forestry

• Approach: i/ participatory rural appraisal at community level, ii/ household survey, iii/ analysis of land use plans and local conventions (a1.1.2)


a1.1.1 Diagnostic survey of organizational and institutional issues: land-use, NRM including forest, livestock and crop production systems (contd)

• Participatory Rural Appraisal

– Objective: Diagnosis of baseline situation with respect to biophysical, socio-economic and institutional profiles of the study sites, and the production systems (crop, livestock & agroforestry)

– Modules: resource maps of the village; inventory of natural resources; production systems; actors and institutional analysis; livelihood analysis; market access

– Implementation status: ongoing


a1.1.1 Diagnostic survey of organizational and institutional issues: land-use, NRM including forest, livestock and crop production systems (contd)

• Household survey

– Objective: characterization of household assets, production systems, access to agricultural services and market, to identify constraints and opportunities to crop-livestock intensification

– Modules: general information on the households; household assets; labour allocation; crop production; livestock production; agroforestry; access to agricultural services and market; perception on climate change



a1.1.2 Validation of local land use plans and supporting key interventions planned collectively

• Analysis of land use and local conventions

– Objective: identify promising land management options in the project sites for sustainable intensification (overall); assess the existing land use plans (specific); review the existing local conventions (specific); propose strategies and policy options for strengthening local conventions (specific)

– Modules: review existing land use plans and local conventions in study sites; organize community workshop on local conventions; conduct interview with key stakeholders



a1.1.3 Information campaign on Integrated Striga and soil fertility management, using video and other visual aids• “Fighting Striga” DVDs multiplied and distributed

to project partners in intervention sites in Mali (MOBIOM, AMEDD, AMASSA-Afrique Verte)

• Second level distribution of DVDs to cooperatives, farmer groups, extension agents, rural radios etc. within and outside intervention sites by MOBIOM (120), AMEDD (50) and AMASSA (130)

• Field agents, technicians, interns and lead farmers trained in the use of Fighting Striga DVDs for farmer training in Koutiala (42 persons), and Yanfolila (38 persons) districts

• Fighting Striga videos shown in 18 villages in Koutiala district (AMEDD), at least 3 villages by cooperatives collaborating with AMASSA in Sikasso region and at least 2 villages in Bougouni and Yanfolila district (MOBIOM, PROGEBE)


a1.1.5 Diversify seed enterprise options for seed or tree nursery cooperatives and their unions, and tree nurseries

• Intervention site project planning workshops performed with project partners and cooperatives

• Planning workshops with partners, field agents and cooperative representatives for the choice of crops and agronomic practices to be tested variety trials for cereals, legumes, vegetables, fodder crops

• Field agents, technicians, interns and lead farmers trained in implementation of arable and vegetable crop trials and on seed production of sorghum, pearl millet and cowpea in Koutiala (>30 persons), Bougouni (5 persons) and Yanfolila (38 persons) districts


a1.1.5 Diversify seed enteprise options for of seed or tree nursery cooperatives and their unions, and tree nurseries (contd)• Variety trials (Sorghum, Millet,

Maize, Cowpea, Groundnut, Soyabean, Okra and Roselle, with and without agronomic options) implemented by partners in Koutiala (11 types, ~160 trials, 17 villages/ cooperatives) and Bougouni (~5 types, 9 villages)

• x mini-packs of seeds of sorghum, pearl millet, cowpea and soyabean sold through partner networks (AMASSA, MOBIOM, AMEDD)

• Seed production fields installed for certification by farmers in Koutiala (>20) and Bougouni (?) for sorghum, pearl millet, maize, cowpea and soyabean


a1.1.6 Quantify biomass productivity (largely in on-going) farmer-managed experiments, quantifying GxE interactions (soil fertility, crop density, intercropping)• Agtrials West Africa database on sorghum, millet, maize,

cowpea, peanut screened for selected Africa RISING sites in West Africa region (Ghana, Mali) and analogue locations (climate & soil) - with CCAFS

• GxE interactions (ensemble) modeling underway for sorghum, millet, maize, peanut as part of the AgMIP initiative (CIWARA project – Climate change Impact on West African agriculture : a Regional Assessment)

• Field typology characterization underway for 3 communities in Koutiala district, n communities in Bougouni district – with McKnight


a1.1.7 Quantify total biomass in selected farms and possibly surrounding areas

• In partnership with CRP1.1• Historical ground measurements of ligneous biomass procured

from Univ. Edinburgh on Ghana-Burkina-Mali transect for calibration of automatic ligneous biomass estimates from radar satellite (L-band)

• 12-meter resolution ALOS/PALSAR imagery acquired and received for 2006, 2011 covering 4,900 km2 in each of Koutiala, Bougouni districts for testing of automatic ligneous biomass estimates from satellite (ordered for Ghana sites as well)

• WorldView2 imagery ordered for peak biomass (late September) over 4 communities in Koutiala, Bougouni (more over CRP1.1 in Mali, Ghana)

• Regional protocols meeting in Niamey 17-20 September (CRP1.1)


a1.1.8 Test fodder crops, tree crops and varieties in cereal based cropping systems for improved fodder availability

• Participatory selection of 4 training modules with MOBIOM, Afrique Verte, AMEDD:– Food, forage, nutrition banks installation and management

(including local tree crops)– Local fruit species grafting– Tree planting and management best practices for local and

exotic species for fuelwood production– Assisted natural regeneration (ANR), rotational shea pruning to

combat loranthaceae


a1.1.8 Test fodder crops, tree crops and varieties in cereal based cropping systems for improved fodder availability (contd)

• Training ongoing:– 1 cluster in Bougouni district by MOBIOM (Faragwaran: all

module), 6-8 Sept. 2012– 3 clusters in Koutiala district by AMEDD (Food bank x 2,

Misc. Plantations: Kefesso), 9-11 Sept. 2012– 2 clusters in Koutiala district by Afrique Verte (Women’s

cooperative, seed cooperative), 12-13 Sept. 2012


a1.1.8 Test fodder crops, tree crops and varieties in cereal based cropping systems for improved fodder availability (contd)• Food banks: year-round

leafy and fruit production for human consumption & income (water access not mandatory)

• Forage banks for animal consumption during dry season & to reduce divagation (protection required)


a1.1.8 Test fodder crops, tree crops and varieties in cereal based cropping systems for improved fodder availability (contd)• Assisted natural regeneration

with locally adapted, farmer-preferred species (need for protection against termites, animals, & watering)

• Small plantations for wood production & reduced conflicts with forestry services (requires availability of land, legal adjustments in forestry code)


Activities ongoing – reports pendings:

a1.1.10. Participatory appraisal on production systems to document existing vegetable varieties, assess relative share of vegetables […]a1.1.11. Introduce, evaluate and promote high value vegetables to improve system productivitya2.1.1. Integrate participatory breeding activities for sorghum and millet with local cattle breeder networka3.3.1 Initiate establishment of rural resource centers for sustainable intensification, income generation for women, youth, other resource-poor farmersa4.1.1 Desk review: nutritional status, quantity and quality of foods consumed, macro and micronutrient intakes; nutrient retention during processinga4.1.2. Desk review of food safety issues including aflatoxin, water quality, pesticide residues, chemical/ physical contaminants, microbiological pathogens


a4.2.1 Develop and test options for introducing communication tools for preventing child malnutrition, into community health care system • Nutrition activities based on the first 1000 days of life concept

(children from conception to 2 years, pregnant & lactating women)

• 4 training modules prepared based on the 7 Essential Nutrition Actions (ENA) framework: i/ exclusive breastfeeding, ii/ complementary feeding of children 6 mths-2yrs, iii/ feeding of the sick child, iv/ maternal nutrition during pregnancy and lactation, v/ control of vitamin A deficiency, vi/ control of iron deficiency anemia, vii/ control of iodine deficiency disorders

• Intervention areas: 6 communes in Koutiala; 6 villages per commune (36 villages in all)


a4.2.1 Develop and test options for introducing communication tools for preventing child malnutrition, into community health care system (contd)• 2 levels of training:

– Commune level: a total of 30 trainers per commune (5 trainers per village) trained by the ICRISAT/AVRDC/AMEDD team; training sessions conducted at the health centres.

– Village level: 25 pregnant and lactating women trained by the 5 trainers per village who received training at the commune level

• Cross-cutting issues of training modules: – Exclusive breastfeeding; hygiene; processing methods for

improved nutrient retention; dietary diversification; utilization of maternal and child health services; prevention of malaria and culinary demonstrations


a4.2.1 Develop and test options for introducing communication tools for preventing child malnutrition, into community health care system (contd)

• Training sessions already conducted (July- August 2012)– Optimal complementary feeding of children 6 months to 2

years– Maternal nutrition during pregnancy and lactation

• Trainings on feeding of the sick child are on-going

• Trainings on control of vitamin A deficiency, iron deficiency anemia, and iodine deficiency disorders been planned for end September to mid October


a4.4.1 Participatory diet appraisal to assess, document existing dietary diversity, relative share of vegetables, nutritional performance of existing dietary options

• 6 health centers supplied with seeds for improved availability and access: – Cereals: sorghum, millet, maize– Legumes: cowpea, soyabean– Vegetables/trees: amaranth, hibiscus (sorrel), moringa,

baobab

• Other reports pending


Documents

Fast Track Workplan 2012 – Mali Status of research execution & planning