Monthly Report – June 2018: Feed the Future Mali Cereal Value Chain Project

The project's focus was on promoting improved cereal seeds, monitoring dam construction and establishing water management committees, supporting bulk sales and warehouse receipt programs, and providing training sessions on various topics. One of the key activities conducted during this period was the organization of a trade promotion day with the seed company SOPROSA. The event aimed to promote the importance of improved seeds in increasing the production and productivity of millet, sorghum, and rice. A total of 24 producers, including seven women, from 24 producer organizations participated in the event. The activities included a general meeting where SOPROSA presented its structure, functions, and activities, as well as an exhibition of improved seeds. The CVC project also conducted multiple training sessions on various topics, including irrigation water management, cereal marketing, documents and procedures for cereals transport and trade, climate change adaptation technologies, production techniques for high quality organic fertilizers, millet/sorghum-cowpea crops intercropping, capitalization tools of CATs and the SMFM approaches, and safe management of pesticides. These training sessions were conducted to build the capacity of beneficiaries and partners, including data collection and entry into the CVC database. In addition to these activities, the CVC project also supported bulk sales, warehouse receipt programs, credit reimbursement, and Saving for Change (S4C) groups. The project's focus on these areas aimed to increase agricultural productivity in irrigated and dryland systems, as well as to promote the use of improved cereal seeds and climate change adaptation technologies. The CVC project's activities during this period were conducted in partnership with various organizations, including the Society for the Production of Improved Seeds (SOPROSA), the Federation of Unions for the Rural Development of Youwarou (FDRY), and the Federation of the Unions Cooperative Societies of Youwarou and Niafunké (FUSCOSYN). These partnerships aimed to leverage the expertise and resources of these organizations to support the project's goals and objectives. Overall, the CVC project's activities during the reporting period from May 21 to June 20, 2018, were focused on promoting improved cereal seeds, increasing agricultural productivity, and building the capacity of beneficiaries and partners. The project's efforts aimed to contribute to the development of the cereal value chain in Mali and to improve the livelihoods of smallholder farmers and their families. The CVC project's work on irrigation water management was a key area of focus during this period. The project conducted training sessions on irrigation water management for FUSCOCYN and FDRY producers, with the aim of improving their skills and knowledge in this area. The project also supported the establishment of water management committees, which aimed to promote the efficient use of water resources and to reduce the risks associated with water scarcity. The CVC project's work on climate change adaptation technologies was another key area of focus during this period. The project conducted training sessions on climate change adaptation technologies for producers, with the aim of improving their skills and knowledge in this area. The project also supported the development of climate-resilient agricultural practices, which aimed to promote the use of climate-resilient crop and animal varieties, as well as to improve the management of water and soil resources.