Deuxième Rapport Annuel AquaFish CRSP – Projet du Mali

The project, established for a three-year period from October 1, 2007, to September 30, 2010, focuses on three main themes: Pisciculture en Etangs, Rizipisciculture, and Plan de Gestion de la Pêche. The first theme, Pisciculture en Etangs, aims to identify, develop, and promote suitable systems of freshwater pond aquaculture applicable to Mali. This theme is based on the experience of China in the field of rice-fish culture and involves adapting known and appropriate methods of rizipisciculture and introducing them into irrigated areas of the Niger River delta in Mali. The second theme, Rizipisciculture, seeks to encourage the participation of local groups and establish a sense of ownership in the development of solid plans for fisheries management, initially centered on the Sélingué Lake region. The third theme, Plan de Gestion de la Pêche, aims to develop a sense of community and consensus in the context of fisheries management. The project adopts a South-South approach to development, utilizing scientific expertise and experience acquired by the Aquaculture and Aquafish CRSP programs, as well as the international community, in the field of aquaculture. The project involves collaboration with various institutions, including AquaFish CRSP, Oregon State University, Direction Nationale de la Pêche, Moi University, Shanghai Ocean University, Network of Aquaculture Centres in Asia-Pacific, FishAfrica, and the Department of Fisheries, Government of Kenya. During the 2009 fiscal year, a total of seven short-term training activities were conducted in Mali, and one course was conducted in Kenya. These activities included training on pond construction and management, supervisor training for the Enquêtes Cadres, agent recenseur training for the Enquêtes Cadres, propagation of catfish and management of a hatchery, and contemporary methods of rizipisciculture. A total of 122 trainees were trained in 2009. The project also involved long-term training, with three students from the Rural Polytechnic Institute for Training & Applied Research (IPR/IFRA) of Katibougou receiving partial financial support for their participation in project activities. These students, Ahmadou Nouh Sow, Fadima Keita, and Bocary Diarra, participated in activities related to Pisciculture en Etangs and Rizipisciculture. Two series of on-farm trials were planned for the Pisciculture en Etangs theme of the project. The first series of trials began in mid-July 2009 and lasted until mid-January 2010. Ten farmers were selected to participate in the on-farm trials, and two sessions of work were held on June 29-30 to prepare the farmers and supervisors for the trials. The trials involved the stocking of ten ponds, management of the ponds, and data collection.