CAN AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION IN THE MARGINAL LANDS CONTRIBUTE TO IMPROVING FOOD SECURITY IN THE SAHELIAN AFRICAN COUNTRIES: AN EVIDENCE FROM THE BAS-FOND RICE PRODUCTION IN MALI

To improve national food security, successive Mali governments have always focused on expanding and intensifying production in the government-managed irrigation schemes (Office du Niger), which account for about 50% of domestic rice production. Because the cost of expanding and rehabilitating those schemes is high, the government is looking for complementary cost-effective ways to achieve this goal. The government could increase domestic rice supply by investing in improving the farmer-managed inland valley swamps. Although the government has paid little attention to those marginal lands, farmers have been growing rice in these areas using traditional technologies. This paper used data from a survey of 334 bas-fond farmers and secondary data to examine the potential contribution that these undeveloped bas-fonds could make to improve food security and rice exports in Mali. The study found that, if fully developed, the bas-fonds and flooded plains could produce more rice than is currently being supplied by the Office du Niger, or imported through commercial imports or food aid. As expected, rice yields in the bas-fonds are lower than in the Office du Niger. However, bas-fonds rice production is both financially profitable and provides a higher return per day of family labor than the competing upland crops (maize, sorghum/millet and cotton). In addition, the estimated domestic resources cost ratios show that, compared to the Office d u Niger, bas-fond rice production represents a better use of domestic resources, both for producing rice for home consumption and for the market.Crop Production/Industries, Food Security and Poverty, Land Economics/Use,

ON THE USE OF PRODUCTIVITY-INCREASING TECHNOLOGIES IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA: THE CASE OF INLAND VALLEY SWAMP RICE FARMING IN SOUTHERN MALI

There is no improved seed-fertilizer technology available that can generate the needed growth in agricultural production in Sub-Saharan Africa to meet food demand by the rapidly increasing population. This paper identifies factors associated with inland valley swamp rice farmers' decisions to adopt "improved" varieties and/or fertilizer. To achieve this objective, input-specific logistic models were estimated using survey-generated data collected from a random sample of 221 rice plots (one per farmer) selected from a purposive sample of 12 Mali-Sud bas-fond villages during the 1995-96 cropping season. The model estimation results show that the farther the village is from the closest market, the lower the probability to adopt the "improved" variety, increasing the size of the rice plot will decrease this probability, and men are more likely to adopt "improved" varieties than women because men have access to credit through CMDT, and more alternative sources of income to finance input purchases than women. For fertilizer, the use of "improved" varieties, the presence of water control infrastructure, and the village experience in cotton production increase the likelihood that a farmer will apply this input. The significance of the village experience in cotton production and women limited access to credit suggests that one of the constrains to a wider use of modern inputs is the absence of a reliable source of these inputs and/or seasonal credits. The significance of village distance to the closest market and the presence of water control the likelihood of using these inputs suggests that there exits some technological payoff associated with well-functioning markets and road improvements because such investments reduce the effective distance between the farm and the market.Crop Production/Industries, Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies,

Case study of Daga-Birame CSV for CCAFS ISP11/6.1.2 – Senegal

Senegal, with 196,712 km2 land area, is located at the extreme west of the African continent (Longitudes 11°21W - 17°32N and Latitudes 12°8N - 16°41N). The country’s soils are in general of low fertility, fragile and very susceptible to wind and water erosion. The climate is of Sudano-Sahelian type characterized by alternating dry season (November to May) and rainy season (June to October). The 700 km coastline brings climatic differences between coastal areas and inland zones. Rainfall amount follows a latitudinal variation going from 300 mm in the north semi-desertic areas to 1200 mm in the south. Senegal is divided into 7 agro-ecological zones for management perspectives: River Valley, Niayes, Groundnut Basin (North and South), Silvo-Pastoral zone, Eastern Senegal and Upper Casamance, Lower Casamance (CIAT-BFS/USAID, 2016). The country’s economy is mainly driven by crop and livestock production contributing 17% of the GDP and employing about 70% of the population (NAPA, Republic of Senegal 2006). Like other sub-Saharan African countries, Senegal faces food insecurity as a consequence of climate variability and change combined with other global changes (Zougmoré et al., 2015)

Sustainable development of crop-livestock farms in Africa

Crop-livestock farms across Africa are highly variable due to in agroecological and socioeconomic factors, the latter shaping the demand and supply of livestock products. Crop-livestock farms in Africa in the 20-first century are very different from most mixed farms elsewhere in the world. African crop-livestock farms are smaller in size, have fewer livestock, lower productivity and less dependency on imported feed than farms in most countries of Europe, the Americas and the intensive agricultural systems of Asia. This paper discusses the role African crop-livestock farms have in the broader socio-agricultural economy, and how these are likely to change adapting to pressures brought on by the intensification of food systems. This intensification implies increasing land productivity (more food per hectare), often leading to more livestock heads per farm, producing fertilized feeds in croplands and importing feed supplements from the market. This discussion includes (1) the links between crop yields, soil fertility and crop-livestock integration, (2) the increasing demand for livestock products and the land resources required to meet to this demand, and (3) the opportunities to integrate broader societal goals into the development of crop-livestock farms. There is ample room for development of crop-livestock farms in Africa, and keeping integration as part of the development will help prevent many of the mistakes and environmental problems related to the intensification of livestock production observed elsewhere in the world. This development can integrate biodiversity, climate change adaptation and mitigation to the current goals of increasing productivity and food security. The inclusion of broader goals could help farmers access the level of finance required to implement changes

Towards understanding the traits contributing to performance of pearl millet open-pollinated varieties in phosphorus-limited environments of West Africa

Aims Pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.] open-pollinated varieties, which are the predominant cultivars, have never been systematically evaluated for adaptation to low-soil phosphorus (P), a major constraint on pearl millet production in West Africa (WA). Methods We evaluated grain yield (GY), flowering time (FLO), harvest index (HI), and residual grain yields (RGY) of 102 open-pollinated varieties from WA under low-P (−P) and high-P (+P) field conditions in six environments of WA. In addition, PE-related traits of the varieties were evaluated at early growth stage in a pot experiment. Results Significant genetic variation was observed for GY, FLO, HI and PE-related traits. P-efficient varieties had higher yield under −P conditions. Varietal performance under −P varied across environments depending on FLO, relative flowering delay under −P (FD) and RGY measured in the field. Low-P-susceptible varieties had higher FLO, lower HI than low-P-tolerant varieties. Response to direct selection under −P field conditions was 20.1 g m−2, whereas indirect selection response under +P was 16.3 g m−2. Conclusions Selection under −P field conditions while taking into account seasonal variations for FLO, FD and PE is expected to be important for improving GY specifically targeting −P environments in WA

Promotion de l'élevage de petits ruminants par les groupements des femmes de Nampossela et Nitabougoro dans le cercle de Koutiala au Sud du Mali

The rearing of domestic animals, especially cattle and sheep, plays an important role in achieving food security and contributes significantly to the incomes of rural populations. In rural areas, for example, there are agricultural producers who practice beef and sheep fattening to increase and secure income. It is in this context that the present study was initiated. The objective of this study was to determine the zoo-economic performance of feeding fattening sheep. A questionnaire was used to collect information on sheep ages, purchase price, weighing, feed, manure production, sale price, etc. the study sample included 52 sheep in 2016 and 91 sheep in 2017. These sheep were divided into three treatments: T0 (control, sheep fed with fodder tree leaves, fresh grass and bran), T1 (sheep fed with fodder tree leaves, fresh grass and cotton seed cake) and T2 (sheep fed with fodder tree leaves, fresh grass, bran and cotton seed cake). The sheep breeds used consisted of Djallonke and Bali-Bali. The data analysis shows that in 2016, Average Daily Weight Gain (ADG) was 42±25, 55±18 and 67±33 g /day respectively for T0, T1 and T2 treatments. While in 2017, the ADG was of 28±22 g/ day (T0), 46±28 g/day (T1) and 42±27 g/day (T2). Through these results, it was found that the sheep belonging to the treatments (T1 and T2) had the highest ADG in comparison with the control sheep (T0). In addition, the cumulative production of dried manure throughout the fattening period fluctuated between 33 (T0) and 43 kg per sheep (T1 and T2) in 2016 against 37 (T0) and 44 kg per sheep (T1) in 2017. On sale, the T1 and T2 processing sheep achieved on average the highest profit margin. In view of these results it is recommended for sheep fattening to supplement the sheep with cotton cake for a better production of meat and manure

ON THE USE OF PRODUCTIVITY-INCREASING TECHNOLOGIES IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA: THE CASE OF INLAND VALLEY SWAMP RICE FARMING IN SOUTHERN MALI

There is no improved seed-fertilizer technology available that can generate the needed growth in agricultural production in Sub-Saharan Africa to meet food demand by the rapidly increasing population. This paper identifies factors associated with inland valley swamp rice farmers' decisions to adopt "improved" varieties and/or fertilizer. To achieve this objective, input-specific logistic models were estimated using survey-generated data collected from a random sample of 221 rice plots (one per farmer) selected from a purposive sample of 12 Mali-Sud bas-fond villages during the 1995-96 cropping season. The model estimation results show that the farther the village is from the closest market, the lower the probability to adopt the "improved" variety, increasing the size of the rice plot will decrease this probability, and men are more likely to adopt "improved" varieties than women because men have access to credit through CMDT, and more alternative sources of income to finance input purchases than women. For fertilizer, the use of "improved" varieties, the presence of water control infrastructure, and the village experience in cotton production increase the likelihood that a farmer will apply this input. The significance of the village experience in cotton production and women limited access to credit suggests that one of the constrains to a wider use of modern inputs is the absence of a reliable source of these inputs and/or seasonal credits. The significance of village distance to the closest market and the presence of water control the likelihood of using these inputs suggests that there exits some technological payoff associated with well-functioning markets and road improvements because such investments reduce the effective distance between the farm and the market

CAN AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION IN THE MARGINAL LANDS CONTRIBUTE TO IMPROVING FOOD SECURITY IN THE SAHELIAN AFRICAN COUNTRIES: AN EVIDENCE FROM THE BAS-FOND RICE PRODUCTION IN MALI

To improve national food security, successive Mali governments have always focused on expanding and intensifying production in the government-managed irrigation schemes (Office du Niger), which account for about 50% of domestic rice production. Because the cost of expanding and rehabilitating those schemes is high, the government is looking for complementary cost-effective ways to achieve this goal. The government could increase domestic rice supply by investing in improving the farmer-managed inland valley swamps. Although the government has paid little attention to those marginal lands, farmers have been growing rice in these areas using traditional technologies. This paper used data from a survey of 334 bas-fond farmers and secondary data to examine the potential contribution that these undeveloped bas-fonds could make to improve food security and rice exports in Mali. The study found that, if fully developed, the bas-fonds and flooded plains could produce more rice than is currently being supplied by the Office du Niger, or imported through commercial imports or food aid. As expected, rice yields in the bas-fonds are lower than in the Office du Niger. However, bas-fonds rice production is both financially profitable and provides a higher return per day of family labor than the competing upland crops (maize, sorghum/millet and cotton). In addition, the estimated domestic resources cost ratios show that, compared to the Office d u Niger, bas-fond rice production represents a better use of domestic resources, both for producing rice for home consumption and for the market

Waking the Sleeping Giant : Agricultural intensification, extensification or stagnation in Mali's Guinea Savannah

<p>The World Bank argued that West Africa's Guinea Savannah zone forms part of “Africa's Sleeping Giant,” where increases in agricultural production could be an engine of economic growth, through expansion of cultivated land in sparsely populated areas. The district of Bougouni, in southern Mali, falls within this zone. We used multiple data sources including a panel survey, remote sensing-based land cover classification, population data, and farmer focus group discussions, to investigate whether the area is following a commonly-described pathway of agricultural intensification due to increasing land scarcity. We then used our understanding of historical change to explore plausible future pathways. Bougouni forms part of the expansion zone of the CMDT, which since the mid-1980s has provided support for intensive agricultural systems of cotton-maize rotations with animal traction and use of mineral fertilizer. In the period of the panel survey (1994–2012), cropped land at household level was correlated with household size: households with less than one full team of draft oxen cultivated 0.50 ha/family member, while households with two or more teams cultivated 0.82 ha/family member (R² &gt; 0.8). At the village level, cropped land increases varied with the amount of remaining available land and the importance of off-farm income. We see some intensification in maize and cotton, and corresponding improvements in food self-sufficiency. However, despite increasing fertilizer use, average maize and cotton yields remain around 1600 and 900 kg/ha respectively, well below national averages. Other crops are still grown in outfields relying on long fallows with limited nutrient inputs. Thus rather than either intensification or extensification the agricultural situation may be best described as stagnation. This may be due to limited incentives to invest in agriculture when compared to opportunities such as gold mining or small businesses, which (in 2012) contribute at least 25% of household income to ten out of 29 households. In future, cropland expansion will likely continue, which could lead to increased conflict between farmers and transhumant herders, and could lead to increased inequality at village level. Factors mitigating the tendency to land expansion include opportunities for off-farm income and migration, or market opportunities and capacity to produce high-value crops such as mango, cashew, or vegetables. This could preserve some remaining savannah area for grazing use and conservation purposes. Understanding household livelihood systems as part of a network of complex social and ecological factors allows the identification and exploration of multiple viable pathways towards desirable futures.</p

P31 Mise au point d’un savon à base de Lawsonia inermis, d’Aloe vera et d’Azadirachta indica pour accompagner la prise en charge de l’acné

Introduction : L’acné est l’un des motifs de consultations les plus fréquents dans les services de Dermatologie. Pour renforcer la prise en charge de l’acné, il est possible d’exploiter les données d’efficacité, de sécurité et de qualité de trois des plantes citées sur 21 plantes recensées en l’Afrique de l’Ouest. L’objectif est le développement puis la fabrication d’un savon dermo-pharmaceutique efficace et accessible économiquement à la majorité des patients de l’Hôpital de Dermatologie de Bamako. Méthodologie : Les échantillons des feuilles de Lawsonia inermis, du gel des bulbes de l’Aloès vera et de l’huile des graines d’Azadirachta indica ont été apprêtés au niveau Département de Médecine Traditionnelle de Bamako. La formulation a été réalisée au niveau de l’unité galénique de l’Hôpital de Dermatologie de Bamako. Le procédé de fabrication à froid a été adopté. Les ingrédients et leurs pourcentages sont : Beurre de Karité (23,6) / Huile de palmiste (17,7) / Huile végétale de Neem (17,7) / Gel d’Aloe Vera (5,9)/ Poudre du Henné (3) / Soude caustique (8,7) / Eau (20,4) / H.E d’Eucalyptus (1,8) / Jus de citron (1,2). La formule du savon a été développée selon le logiciel calculateur de saponification « Soaphomemade ». Le savon a été fabriqué et sa qualité physico-chimique a été déterminée. L’enquête de satisfaction a été réalisée par 10 testeurs hommes et femmes, sains, résidant à Bamako. La durée des tests était de 15   jours et les propriétés recherchées étaient le pouvoir moussant, nettoyant, exfoliant et émollient, aussi l’odeur et les recommandations. Le prix du savon a été estimé et comparé aux autres vendus en pharmacie. Résultats : Trois lots de savon de 6 morceaux de 75 g ont été fabriqués. Les savons avaient une couleur Brun foncé, avec des pH autour de 8 et étaient durs. L’odeur était caractéristique de l’huile de neem. Les savons respectaient toutes les normes de qualité selon le calculateur de saponification. 80% des testeurs étaient globalement satisfaits du produit. Le coût de fabrication a été estimé à 950 F CFA comparé aux savons : Mitracca 1300 F CFA ; Vegebom Purifiant 2000 F CFA ; Laino au soufre2350 F CFA ; Nobacter 3100 F CFA. Conclusion : Une étude sensorielle auprès de 10 testeurs/res a été satisfaisante. En perspective, il s’agira de valider ces résultats préliminaires chez un nombre important de patients