Feed the Future Mali Cereal Value Chain Monthly Report

The project's main activities during the period of June 20th to July 20th, 2016, focused on partnerships for the supply of improved seeds, demonstration plots implementation, and collaboration with various stakeholders. Partnerships for the supply of improved seeds were established with private companies, government services, and farmers' organizations to receive free seeds for demonstration plots in the regions of Mopti, Sikasso, and Segou. The project received seeds from SOPROSA, a private seed company in Sikasso, a cooperative tree nursery in Cinzana, and the regional agricultural research center (CRRA) in Sikasso. The seeds were distributed to different production areas in the regions of Sikasso, Mopti, and Niono district. Demonstration plots were prepared in the Mopti and Sikasso regions and the Alatona area in Ségou for the upcoming cropping season. The project trained CVC's agribusiness coaches on demoplots and implemented various activities, including the distribution of seeds, fertilizers, and other inputs to participating farmers. The project also collaborated with the Department of Rural Development (DRA) and the Office of Rural Development and Irrigation (ORM) to provide technical guarantees for access to subsidized fertilizers. The project also collaborated with IPRO-IRRIGAR Sikasso for the implementation of hydro-agricultural infrastructures in valley bottoms. A meeting was held on June 22nd and 23rd with representatives from IPRO-IRRIGAR, CVC-Bamako, and USAID to identify expectations, needs, and potentials of collaboration. The meeting aimed to plan the implementation of hydro-agricultural infrastructures in the valley bottoms and specified which indicators should be monitored. In addition, the project demonstrated the practical use of the leveling bar in the Village Irrigated Perimeter (VIP) of Kamaga in the district of Mopti. The demonstration aimed to improve water management in VIPs and develop an appropriate environment for the application of the intensive rice system (SRI). The practical demonstration was attended by 30 participants from 7 VIPs. The project also facilitated the access of producer organizations (POs) to diesel motor pumps for irrigation in Korientzé, Mopti. The project clarified to producers that the allocated subsidies would not completely cover their demand and motivated them to seek commercial input markets as an alternative to meet their current needs. The project also monitored the situation of fertilizer supply to date, which showed that the total need for millet and rice fertilizers was not completely covered by the allocated subsidies. Overall, the Feed the Future Mali Cereal Value Chain project made significant progress in increasing agricultural productivity, expanding markets and trade, and strengthening local capacities and systems. The project's activities aimed to improve the livelihoods of smallholder farmers and increase food security in Mali.