GENERAL BACKGROUND DATA

1. PERSONS MET

2. INTRODUCTION

2.1 Reorganization of Public Administration

2.2 Agricultural Development Strategy

2.3 Agricultural Support Services

2.4 Status of Aquaculture

2.5 Status of Irrigation Development

3. INSTITUTIONS OF INTEREST INVOLVED MAINLY IN RESEARCH AND/ORTRAINING

3.1 Institut d’Economie Rurale

3.2 Institut de formation et de recherche appliqu�e

4. INSTITUTIONS OF INTEREST INVOLVED MAINLY IN DEVELOPMENT

4.1 Direction Nationale de l’Am�nagement et de l’Equipement Rural

4.2 Direction Nationale de l’Appui au Monde Rural

4.3 Projet de r�habilitation du p�rim�tre hydro-agricole de Baguin�da

4.4 Chambers of Agriculture and their Permanent Assembly

4.5 FAO Special Programme for Food Security

5. CONCLUSIONS

6. LITERATURE CONSULTED

A general reorganization of the public administration has recently been decided and is still being implemented. Main points of interest are as follows:

2.1.1 Decentralization

Definition of "Collectivit�s territoriales d�centralis�es"(CTD - Decentralized territorial communities).

Decentralization at three levels:

• Region (seven regions - Figure 1 - plus Bamako)
• Cercle (a group of communes)
• Commune (still to be created as group of villages)

Rem. "Arrondissement" (level between "Cercle" and "Commune") still existing but to be eliminated.

2.1.2 Reorganization of rural development institutions

Within the Ministry of Rural Development and Environment (MDRE), rural development institutions have been completely reorganized according to the "Schema Directeur" (MDRE, 1992) and the follow-up Action Plan (1993). This reorganization based on production systems instead of production categories (crops, animals, forest, fish...) was officially accepted in September 1996 and implemented immediately afterwards (MDRE, 1997c) as follows:

• at national level, establishment of three national Directorates for:

• at regional level, establishment of a similar administrative structure (DRAER, DRAMR and DRLRC)

• most institutions previously attached to MDRE to be maintained such as the Rural Economics Institute (IER, Section 3.1) and various offices (for ex. Office du Niger, Office Riz S�gou, Office Riz Mopti, Office de d�veloppement rural de S�lingu�).

2.1.3 Transfer

Transfer of projects/programmes management to the regional level.

2.1.4 Reorganization of rural development support services

• DNAER to work directly with CTDs for infrastructures, animation, training and support;
• DNAMR to work directly with socio-professional farmers’ associations (Section 2.1.6);
• Agricultural extension reorganized (Section 2.3.1);
• Agricultural research reorganized (Section 2.3.2).

2.1.5 Creation of a Planning and Statistics Unit

In 1992, the "Cellule de planification et statistiques" (CPS) was established and directly attached to MDRE Minister’s Cabinet:

• to follow-up on financing requests;
• to ensure formulation, follow-up and evaluation of MDRE programmes and projects.

2.1.6 Producers organizations

New producers organizations have emerged, such as syndicates, cooperatives, village associations, etc.

Recently, these organizations have started regrouping themselves on a local or regional basis, particularly either as in the Kayes (COPAKA) and Sikasso (CRCR) regions, or in a network of Chambers of Agriculture (Section 4.4), or as the coordination of rice producers at Office du Niger, or as the Mopti cooperatives of fishermen, vegetable producers, cattle breeders, etc.

Food security has been chosen as the central theme of the new agricultural development strategy (MDRE, 1992). This strategy includes:

• improved management of natural resources for sustainable growth;
• creation of a favourable economic environment;
• privatization of selected public responsibilities (for example, production activities and part of support activities) in favour of the private sector and existing farmers’ organizations;
• reorganization of the public sector (Section 2.1) to increase efficiency and credibility.

A typical example is the reorganization of the "Office du Niger" (ON) and the reorientation of its responsibilities towards water management and maintenance of the main hydraulic structures, accompanied by the progressive transfer of other responsibilities to farmer’s associations with strong government support.

2.3.1 Agricultural extension

In all regions except in the southern areas where the Malian Textile Development Company (CMDT, mostly cotton culture) operates, the National Programme for Agricultural extension (PNVA, funded by the World Bank) has been implemented since 1992, after a three-year pilot phase for adopting the "training and visit" programme to Malian conditions (MDRE, 1997a).

This programme is characterized by:

• increased decentralization of extension services at regional level (regional Evaluation and Programme);
• polyvalent extensionists (agents vulgarisateurs de base, AVB) who support farmers simultaneously for vegetal, animal, forestry and environment productions;
• each locally elected contact farmer to transfer weekly/biweekly messages to a voluntary contact group of 10 to 15 farmers;
• contact groups to transfer messages to all other farmers of the village;
• technical supervisors to support and supervise groups of AVB and to train them for messages to be delivered, at biweekly intervals.

At present and on average, each AVB supports 16 to 24 contact groups composed of 30 to 40 farmers.

The PNVA responsibilities therefore include:

• extension services: demonstrations for crops, animal husbandry and environment are run with contact farmers. Possibly, they are repeated with contact groups;
• liaison research-extension-farmers: it is ensured by on-farm trials and monthly workshops to review specific technological subjects as well as farmers’ visits to research stations and trials;
• training: it is performed through regional and national workshops (diagnosis, evaluation, planning), biweekly training of AVB, farmers’ training, exchange of experience through visits to other farmers and through radio/TV messages;
• promotion of women involvement in production activities;
• alphabetization and organization of farmers;
• follow-up and evaluation of development.

2.3.2 Agricultural research

As mentioned later, the Rural Economics Institute (IER) is responsible for all aspects of agricultural research (Section 3.1).

In contrast with past practices, research evaluation and programming are closely related to producers problems as follows:

• regional commissions of research beneficiaries (CRU) have been created;
• annual meetings take place to control research efforts and to ensure that they address pragmatically rural producers’ preoccupations, with the participation of representatives of the CRU, extension services and regional IER research centre (Section 3.1);
• defined regional research programmes are then approved at national level by the Scientific Commission of the National Committee for Agricultural Research (CNRA);
• final approval of the national research programme is then granted by the Administrative Council of IER to be implemented by this research institution.

Aquaculture activities are relatively new in Mali where they initiated in 1979 when USAID built the first fry production station within a CMDT irrigation scheme, near San. But continuous problems with water supply lead to the closure of the station in the 1980s.

In 1986, the Organization for African Unity (OAU), provided a grant to promote rural aquaculture development in the ON zone, where the Kourouma fry production station was also built. This was followed in 1987-92 by the AFVP volunteers (France) project to integrate aquaculture into the large ON rice irrigation scheme at Niono. Although these efforts resulted in the construction of more than 200 ponds by the early 1990s, aquaculture both in ponds and in artificial small water bodies remained a low priority for local farmers. Collective exploitation was a total failure and very little interest was shown in on-farm fry production. Problems with land and water management were also numerous. Further socio-economic studies could not be implemented to better direct the aquaculture development.

From 1987 to 1992, a UNDP/FAO project (MLI/86/001) was implemented with some success:

• the National Aquaculture Training Centre was built and operated at Molodo, near Niono. Fish fry production of Nile tilapia and African catfish was established;
• the Kourouma station was improved and fry production initiated;
• a fry production station was built within the S�lingu� rice irrigation scheme;
• fish farming trials with various production systems were run within this irrigation scheme;
• fish fry distributions were regularly organized to benefit pond farmers and to stock small water bodies for fishery enhancement;
• senior and medium level MDRE staff were trained in aquaculture technologies and extension practices.

Most project activities were suspended in 1993 after closure of the project.

Today, renewed interest of Government, farmers and fishermen in pond farming development (from extensive to semi-intensive) is shown in areas where:

• wild captured fish are relatively rare and expensive, for example, in the Mopti area from where most fish are exported daily towards major Bamako market;
• natural conditions of topography, soil, water resources, etc., are favourable, for example, close to or within large irrigation schemes;
• past extension efforts of the local administration have been successful.

Reasons for such renewed interest are production diversification, nutrition improvement and/or additional income.

In addition, in several areas such as Mopti, Segou, San, Sikasso and Dogon country (Figure 1), farmers and fishermen are annually stocking wild juvenile fish into seasonal small water bodies, such as small reservoirs, floodplain depressions (or "mares"), borrowing pits for earthen structures construction and banco or clay bricks making (respectively locally known as "emprunts", "bancotti�res" and "briquetti�res"). The production system is mostly extensive, although in some cases agricultural by-products and/or cattle manure may be used to increase fish production. Wild tilapias and African catfish juveniles caught from local water bodies are preferred for stocking.

Competition for fish feed ingredients would exist if aquaculture developed well. Nutritionally balanced fish feed can be obtained on request from an animal feed mill (HUICOMA, in Koulikoro, at 50 FCFA/kg). Unfortunately, until now no pelleting machine is available.

An AfDB project is being considered for the development of rice culture and fish production in water-filled depressions, in the San-Bla area.

Until recently, fishery/aquaculture administration has been represented at central level by the Fishery Division and its Aquaculture Development Section, within the Waters and Forests Department. Unfortunately, this previous administration has been, unfortunately, characterized by a general lack of technical, human, financial and logistic means (MDRE, 1997c).

The 1997 MDRE reorganization (Section 2.1) attempts to remove past constraints and to improve support services (Section 2.3) available to farmers/fishermen. But the general situation of aquaculture support in particular is still precarious, especially because of lack of trained personnel. In most regions, specialized aquaculture personnel are still to be recruited. Even within the various offices to be primarily involved with aquaculture development (ON, ORM, etc.), there is no staff properly trained in aquaculture.

Productions of tilapia and catfish juveniles in public stations are still relatively low, although simple technology exists and has been demonstrated on site. The National Training Centre at Molodo still functions, but at reduced level. The Mopti "Operation P�che" (OPM) and IER research centre (Section 3.1) support extensive aquaculture in floodplain depressions and borrowing pits with limited means.

There is no aquaculture development project for the moment. Recently, the Support programme for implementation of the rural development action plan (PAMOS - UNDP/FAO) proposed an action programme for fishery and aquaculture development (DNAER, 1997). This programme includes project ideas for:

• the development of the various potential aquaculture production systems (definition of social/economic viability criteria, privatization of juvenile fish production, increased research/extension/training capacity at Molodo Centre and SWB enhancement through stocking);
• the training (management, technology, project development/evaluation, etc.) of government staff and farmers’ organization members involved in aquaculture development;
• support to aquaculture research, to improve liaison between research and development, and to better define aquaculture technologies best adapted to local conditions.

Irrigation development in Mali (MDRE, 1997a) consists of:

• one large irrigation scheme with total water control (ON): 50000ha are equipped, of which 22000ha have been rehabilitated (1996); rehabilitation still progresses at the rate of 2000ha/year;
• medium and small irrigation schemes with total water control, in Kayes, Mopti, Tombouctou and Gao regions;
• irrigation schemes with natural or controlled submersion, in Segou and Mopti regions, as well as in the lake region situated between Mopti and Tombouctou;
• inland valley bottom (IVB) schemes, essentially found in southern Mali.

Potential areas for irrigation and areas of the various types of irrigation schemes are given in the tables below (MDRE, 1997a).

As mentioned earlier, Mali participates in the regional FAO project, GCP/RAF/340/JPN, with Niger and Burkina Faso where it has its headquarters (see Chapter 3, Section 3.2).

Irrigation potential in Mali^a/

Inventory of hydro-agricultural schemes by type (in ha)

Rem. LIS - large irrigation scheme (more than 100 ha); SIS - small irrigation scheme (<100 ha)

The Rural Economics Institute (IER) is a public institution with financial autonomy, part of the Ministry of Rural Development and Environment (Institut d’Economie Rurale, 1997a). In Mali, it is responsible for all aspects of agricultural research (vegetal, animal, forestry and fishery productions; natural resources management; socio-economic aspects of production systems).

Bamako headquarters houses the Direction G�n�rale which includes, among others:

• Direction du Service d’Appui Technique (technical support);
• Direction des Ressources Financi�res (financial resources);
• Direction Scientifique, including:
  • Scientific Coordinator, Forestry and Fishery Productions;
  • Chief, Central Laboratory (soil, water, plants);
  • Chief, Central Laboratory (animal nutrition);
  • Documentation/Information/Publication Service;
  • Genetic Resources Unit;
  • Chief, Research Programme (fishery resources).

There are six Regional Centres for Agricultural Research located throughout the country, of which two are of particular interest:

• the Niono Centre, specialized in irrigated rice research;
• the Mopti Centre, specialized in fishery/aquaculture research.

Research is also carried out on-farm and with rural development institutions, with the involvement of the Hydrobiological Laboratory in Mopti also.

The 1995-2005 Strategic Plan for Agricultural Research in Mali (Institut d’Economie Rurale, 1997b) includes research on fishery resources, but only capture fisheries in the Central Niger Delta and in Selingue Reservoir are mentioned.

Research activities concerning aquaculture have been until now limited to:

• stocking of banco pits filled with rainwater;
• artificial reproduction of Clarias anguillaris;
• feeding/rearing wild tilapia and catfish juveniles.

Small-scale farmers have requested IER assistance to initiate rizipisciculture.

A seven-year World Bank project (Banque mondiale, 1995) started in late 1994 to assist Mali in implementing the first six-year phase of the Strategic Plan for the Rural Economics Institute (IER). It consists of the following components:

• institutional development (CNRA and IER);
• technological transfer and research users’ participation (participatory research activities);
• implementation/management of research programmes (planning/follow-up/evaluation and information capacity; documentation centre);
• development and management of resources (research station management, human resources, rehabilitation of infrastructure, scientific/communication/information equipment).

The Institute for Training and Applied Research (IFRA) depends on the Ministry of Secondary, Higher Education and Scientific Research. Part of the University of Mali, IFRA is located in Katibougou near Koulikoro, 60km east of Bamako. It includes 380ha of land extending along River Niger.

One of the oldest agricultural training centres in Africa (1897), it took its actual name in 1996. Its missions are:

• to produce agricultural engineers (baccalaureat+2+3 years), specialized either in agro-economy or animal husbandry or waters/forests;
• to produce senior technicians (baccalaureat+2 years), specialized as above;
• to train staff involved in rural development;
• to provide training to rural communities;
• to promote scientific and technological research.

A quota of 25 percent of the total number of students is reserved for foreigners.

Fishery and aquaculture sciences are part of the IFRA curriculum for the Waters and Forests specialization. A small pond farm exists, water-fed by pumping from River Niger, but non-functional at the time of the visit. Study of local tilapia species is planned on a limited scale by one of the lecturers specialized in fisheries (formerly at the IER Mopti research centre).

The National Directorate for Rural Development and Equipment (DNAER) is responsible for natural resources development planning, elaboration of methodologies and management systems, study for and follow-up of the implementation of investment projects/programmes directed at rural development and equipment.

The Division for development/management of natural resources supports regional structures and territorial communities to reinforce their capacities in managing fishery and aquaculture resources, through its Section for development/management of fishery resources.

At regional level, a Regional Directorate for rural development and equipment takes over, with a similar administrative structure.

Most efforts are oriented towards capture fisheries development in the Central Niger Delta and in the large Selingue (409 km²) and Manantali (about 500 km²) reservoirs from which up to 120 000 t of fresh fish are captured annually.

DNAER manages three fry production stations (Nile tilapia and Clarias) at S�lingu�, Kourouma and Molodo/Niono (also National Training Centre). All together these stations can produce 250 000 juveniles annually.

Past experience includes fish farming in the S�lingu� irrigated scheme, with UNDP/FAO Project MLI/86/001, but all activities have ceased since project closure. More experience exists with the stocking of small depressions annually filled during the rainy season, such as clay pits and floodplain depressions in the Mopti, S�gou and San regions. Stocking material mostly consists of wild fry (tilapia/catfish) captured by local fishermen.

The mission of the National Directorate for Support of Rural Communities (DNAMR) consists in agricultural extension, training, information and communication, as well as in the organization and animation of rural communities.

At regional level, a Regional Directorate for support of rural communities takes over.

Again, most efforts are directed today towards capture fishery development, in particular through the Operation P�che Mopti (OPM) in the Central Niger Delta.

A five-year National Programme for Agricultural Extension, supported by the World Bank, is to be evaluated in November 1997 and possibly extended. One contact farmer per village is weekly visited/advised by a polyvalent extensionist; this contact farmer provides advice to ten other selected farmers in the village. Little experience with fish exists.

Since mostly cereals are produced, diversification into small animal husbandry and aquaculture is considered to be of great interest for future development.

The project for the Rehabilitation of the Baguin�da Irrigation Scheme (PRB) is located 30km south of Bamako. Administratively, it depends on the DNAMR (Section 4.2). Created in 1989, it is responsible for rural development in an old "Office du Niger" polder, water-fed since 1929 by gravity from River Niger through a 44-km primary irrigation canal, downstream from a hydro-electric plant. Part of a potentially irrigated area of 4000ha, the actual third phase of the project is developing 2536ha with financial support from AfDB and the Mali Government. An additional non-irrigated area of 17819ha exists, of which 2623ha are now exploited (PRB, 1997).

In total, 21 villages (18060 inhabitants) are involved in the development activities, with the support of 19 AVB and two technicians. PRB activities include:

• to ensure exploitation/maintenance of primary irrigation infrastructures;
• to train farmers in appropriate technologies to obtain high production rates for all crops involved (in winter: rice, maize, millet, sorgho and peanuts; in counter season: vegetables);
• to support development, in particular through extension services organized according to the national model (Section 2.3.1);
• to manage the PRB developed land area;
• to support farmers’ organizations and to progressively transfer to them project management responsibilities, such as maintenance of secondary and tertiary irrigation infrastructures, rational irrigation water management, soil conservation practices, functional alphabetization, credit and marketing; of the 24 existing farmers’ organizations, 19 are now independent and have their own technical teams;
• to develop regional agricultural industries, such as paddy processing plants, mills, tomato processing factory and fresh horticultural products conditioning.

The project consists of two technical divisions (agricultural extension; exploitation/maintenance), one Administrative/Financial Bureau and a Planning/Statistics Unit. It has a total of 64 staff.

Major constraints which are being faced are:

• primary canal very old and to be rehabilitated, particularly to enable increasing the irrigated area in counter-season;
• electrification of Bagnin�da town incompleted;
• financing project expansion over 1000ha downstream;
• high input prices for farmers;
• limited markets for some vegetables and fruit.

Some farmers/fishermen are present on the project, capturing fish from River Niger as a secondary activity. One proposal to develop a fish farm has been filed by one of them at the National Bank for Agricultural Development (BNDA) without success.

Because of the relatively high demographic pressure, it is planned to intensify and to diversify production systems. It is believed that aquaculture has a role to play, wild juvenile fish being easily available locally from River Niger and its floodplain.

The Mali Chambers of Agriculture (CAM) were created in 1993, following the approval of the new Action Plan for rural development (MDRE, 1992). At all administrative levels they represent: agriculture, animal husbandry, forestry and fishery (including aquaculture) producers. The latter are automatically "Ressortissants" of their local Chamber of Agriculture at village/town level, public servants not being accepted into such structure.

The general CAM organization varies according to the administrative level at which they operate:

• at village level, four producers are selected by all local producers to represent them at the next level;
• at ‘arrondissement’ level (future communes), four of the village representatives are selected by all these representatives to participate in the next level of debates/activities;
• at ‘cercle’ level (4 to 8 arrondissements), three of the arrondissement representatives are elected (secret ballot) to represent each "cercle"at the regional level;
• at region level, the Regional Chamber of Agriculture (CRA) is made of:

• a Consular Assembly to debate problems/programmes, consisting of three representatives at "cercle" level and five representatives of the Professional agricultural organizations (OPA) present in the region (for example, cooperatives, syndicates, mutualities, etc.); all representatives are elected by secret ballot;
• a Bureau in charge of management, consisting of one President and four vice-presidents (all elected);
• a General Secretariat: services staffed by permanent employees in charge of CRA administrations;
• working commissions according to needs.

• at national level, CRA’s activities are coordinated by the Permanent Assembly of the Mali Chambers of Agriculture (APCAM) consisting of:

• a Consular Assembly consisting of the nine CRA Bureau Presidents (8 regions plus Bamako), two members of each CRA Consular Assembly and five members of OPA regional representatives, all elected. Five resource persons (of which three are women) also participate in the Assembly activities;
• a Bureau in charge of APCAM management, consisting of one President and eight vice-presidents, all elected;
• a General Secretariat to administer APCAM, with various specialized services staffed by permanent employees.

CRA and APCAM are independent public institutions with financial autonomy. Their functions are specifically:

• to professionally represent agriculture, animal husbandry, forestry and fishery producers’ interests and to ensure that their professional concerns be known at national and international levels;
• to guarantee a permanent two-way liaison between producers and government institutions, including research via the PNVA (Section 2.3.1) and the regional CRUs (Section 2.3.2);
• to train elected/selected representatives of producers’ communities in the administration of chambers of agriculture, projects elaboration, entrepreneurial development, communication (radio/TV), sensibilization, organization of agricultural shows/fairs, etc.;
• to be the communication/information pole for rural producers;
• to play a catalytic role and to support individual and collective initiatives in rural communities;
• to participate in the elaboration and implementation of rural development policies/strategies, together with decentralized collectivities and with the Government;
• to support the establishment of development projects, such as wheat processing mill operation, management of a public agricultural centre by a local organization for the production of one-day old chicken, if necessary with the direct assistance of bilateral/multilateral partners; this APCAM function is particularly encouraged by the actual government policy to disengage itself from production activities and to concentrate them into the hands of private entrepreneurs or local producers’ associations.

Financing of CRAs and APCAM originates from public funds and from foreign partners such as Belgium, Canada, Japan, UNDP and the Franche-Comt� region in France, with which APCAM can negotiate directly. It is planned that, in the long term, government funds be replaced by taxation ensuring the perennity of these institutions.

PAMOS (UNDP/FAO) has been assisting APCAM for the last four years with, for example, a national expert, institutional support, equipment and publication of a quarterly newsletter (Paysan aujourd’hui).

Twenty-one private radio stations broadcast APCAM and producers’ messages one hour a month, throughout the country. The national television is also called in to record special CRA/APCAM events, such as agricultural fairs, field visits and World Days activities (rural women, food, etc.).

APCAM has been showing great interest in integrating aquaculture into agricultural development whenever water is present. Various initiatives have been taken:

• a well-trained technical adviser highly specialized in capture fishery and in aquaculture development (formerly involved with UNDP/FAO project MLI/86/001) has been recruited;
• Japanese assistance has been secured to review the aquaculture status in Mali, starting in March 1998; future development activities might then be financed;
• discussions are being held with the Government for the privatization of the Kourouma and Molodo fish culture stations in favour of local OPA, in line with Government policy; these stations would then give the necessary support to aquaculture development in these regions.

For these reasons, APCAM is most interested in becoming involved in a research network which could effectively support the future aquaculture activities of the Chambers of Agriculture.

Interest to participate in an FAO Special Programme for Food Security (SPFS) was confirmed by Government in early 1996. A national coordinator was nominated and formulation of the SPFS Pilot/preparatory Phase was initiated in May 1996 with financial support of the Netherlands (NL). A Coordination Committee was formed. Formulation was finalized by a Mali/NL/China/FAO joint mission in November 1996 for a three-year (1997-99) pilot phase (MDRE, 1997a and b).

The main objectives of this pilot phase are:

• to demonstrate the technical, economical and social validity of selected improved technologies;
• to identify and to correct constraints related to increased production.

The main components of the programme are:

• low cost irrigation, priority being given to small irrigation schemes with total water control and to inland valley bottoms (IVB);
• improvement of agricultural production, priority being given to rice and maize; potential area for rice production is estimated at 1100000ha of which 70000ha are equipped for total water control;
• analysis of existing constraints.

Recently, production diversification has been added:

1. a mission has already defined small animal husbandry potential contribution to the programme;
2. seasonal small water bodies enhancement through fish stocking and other aquaculture systems should be considered soon.

The main activities of the pilot phase should be:

• preparatory activities (participatory socio-economic surveys, training, sensibilization...);
• limited rehabilitation of small irrigation schemes;
• establishment and implementation of demonstrations (water management, intensive crop production);
• identification and analysis of constraints, including specific aspects related to gender issues;
• preparation of the SPFS Expansion Phase (workshops, etc.) during which it is planned to initiate activities in the "Office du Niger" (ON) zone, a large irrigation scheme where high-cost hydro-agricultural development is involved (about 5 million FCFA per ha).

Preparatory activities are progressing primarily aimed at the selection of SPFS pilot sites. Because of their high potential, these sites have been selected in three regions: Mopti, Koulikoro and Kayes (Figure 1). Participatory socio-economic surveys have then been carried out and, within each of these regions, a few potential pilot sites have been selected based on the following fundamental criteria:

• existing farmers’ organizations (in particular women), well structured, for example for water management;
• existing economic and social infrastructure, relatively well developed for marketing of additional productions;
• presence of experienced support services (public or NGOs);
• presence of other development projects with which SPFS could interact positively.

Finally, two to three village communities have been selected in each region as pilot sites, as shown in the table below. Farmers’ organizations to be involved in the SPFS pilot phase have been identified in each community. In total, the pilot area extends over 700ha exploited by 600 producers among a population of 9000 inhabitants.

Selected sites for the SPFS pilot phase in Mali

a/ PPIV: small irrigation village scheme, with water pumping;

IVB: irrigation from small reservoirs/wells, with pumping, in inland valley bottoms

5. CONCLUSIONS

Mali is a typical Sahelian country where most agricultural production depends on the wise use of available water resources, mostly surface water, to fight drought for a good part of the year. Agricultural irrigation schemes of all types and sizes are well developed contributing to a vast national programme for water security down to the level of the populations themselves. A great number of small reservoirs, natural depressions and earth-borrowing pits exist, but water presence is generally seasonal and limited to the rainy season. Exceptionally, a few of these are permanently under water, either by design or with the assistance of a solar pump, and mostly for livestock watering.

Aquaculture development has been overwhelmingly neglected in the past, even if since the 1980s some sporadic efforts have demonstrated the potential positive impacts of some well adapted practices. As a result, trained man-power is practically inexistent and research programmes of limited value to support future aquaculture development.

Following the recent reorganization of the public administration responsible for agriculture, forestry and fishery development and the increased decentralization in favour of rural producers, a renewed interest in multiple use of water resources, including fish production, is progressively emerging from the rural communities themselves. Local government entities should gradually recognize that whenever water is present, some form of aquaculture can be envisaged to improve rural food security, nutrition and income at reduced additional costs.

This explains the interest shown in our proposed research network, not only by the Special Programme for Food Security, but also by all people directly involved in rural development, in particular APCAM.

Therefore, it is suggested that not only the Institute of Rural Economics (IER) be involved in the proposed network as the institution responsible in Mali for all agricultural research and the design of technological packages, but that development structures be also closely associated to support IER, in particular:

• APCAM with its well-trained and experienced technical adviser, who has already initiated activities to promote integrated aquaculture development;
• DNAER for all development and equipment aspects;
• DNAMR, directly involved through its reorganized extension service with rural development.

Local and international communication systems are functioning rather well, but are relatively expensive to use. Electronic mail is available. Access to Internet is still under discussion, but should become available soon, for a relatively high monthly fee.

6. LITERATURE CONSULTED

Banque mondiale, 1995. Programme de la coop�ration Mali-Banque mondiale 1995. Bamako, Banque mondiale, 145 p.

DNAER, 1997. Mali. Sch�ma directeur de d�veloppement de la p�che et de la pisciculture. Bamako, DNAER/MDRE, 61 p.

Institut d’Economie Rurale, 1997a. Pr�sentation. Bamako, IER/Serv. Documentation, Information, Publication, 12 p.

Institut d’Economie Rurale, 1997b. Plan Strat�gique de la Recherche Agronomique au Mali. Objectifs quantifi�s 1995-2005. Bamako, IER/Serv. Doc. Info. Publ., 14 p.

MDRE, 1992. Sch�ma directeur du secteur d�veloppement rural. Bamako, MDRE, 3 vol.

Vol.1 - Strat�gie g�n�rale, 45 p.

Vol.2 - Strat�gie de d�veloppement, 223 p. + tabl.

Vol.3 - Plan d’action, 40 p.

MDRE, 1997a. Programme Sp�cial pour la production vivri�re en appui � la s�curit� alimentaire (PSSA). Programme sp�cial national (Document 1). FAO/Centre Investissement, Rome, 48 p. + tabl.

MDRE, 1997b. Programme Sp�cial pour la production vivri�re en appui � la s�curit� alimentaire (PSSA). Plan d’op�rations de la phase pr�paratoire (Document 2). FAO/Centre Investissement, Rome, 27 p. + tabl./ann.

MDRE, 1997c. Plan d’Action du MDRE. Document de pr�sentation des nouvelles structures du MDRE. Bamako, MDRE/CAMOPA, 25 p.

PRB, 1997. Note de pr�sentation du PRB. Baguin�da, PRB, 5 p.

Figure 1. Mali: administrative regions and selected SPFS pilot sites