Feed the Future Mali Cereal Value Chain Monthly Report

The project focuses on increasing agricultural productivity in irrigated and dryland systems, expanding markets and trade, and strengthening local capacities and systems. In January and February 2016, the project implemented several activities to achieve its objectives. Assistance was provided to producer organizations (POs) for off-season rice production in Village Irrigated Perimeters (VIPs) in Mopti. The project's rice and irrigation specialists conducted a support mission to prepare off-season rice production in 6 VIPs, measuring the preparation level of POs, identifying challenges, and discussing possible solutions. The planned area for off-season rice production is estimated to be 123 ha, with 391 producers involved, including 73 women. The project also organized training sessions for CVC's agribusiness coaches and community agribusiness teams on marketing and cereal trade contracts in Mopti and Sikasso. The training aimed to strengthen the capacities of coaches to assist Community Agribusiness Teams (CATs) to prepare a good and successful cereal marketing campaign for their producer organizations. The training covered topics such as improving cereal quality for markets, POs' preparation on planning for marketing campaigns, organization of collective sales, and concepts of business contracts. In addition, the project facilitated contracts between the World Food Programme (WFP) and wholesalers in Mopti and Sikasso. The project proposed strategies to the wholesaler to develop his capacity for responding to WFP's requirements for purchasing millet with producer organizations supported by CVC. The contract between the wholesaler and WFP was signed on February 1st, 2016, and the wholesaler signed a contract with 6 POs to purchase 84 MT of millet at 1,200 kg. The project also implemented other activities, including training of cereal traders on business contracts and regulation of cereal trade in Mopti and Sikasso, and training of CVC's Agribusiness Coaches on Sell More For More (SMFM) in Sikasso. The project continues to follow up with the participants of these training sessions to ensure that they are able to apply the knowledge and skills gained. The project's geographic focus is on the Mopti and Sikasso regions of Mali, where it is working with producer organizations, wholesalers, and other stakeholders to improve agricultural productivity, market access, and resilience of vulnerable communities. The project's timeframes are January and February 2016, during which it implemented several activities to achieve its objectives. The project's implementation details include assistance to POs for off-season rice production, training of CVC's agribusiness coaches and community agribusiness teams, training of cereal traders, and facilitation of contracts between WFP and wholesalers. The project's recommendations include continued support to POs for off-season rice production, further training of CVC's agribusiness coaches and community agribusiness teams, and continued facilitation of contracts between WFP and wholesalers.