Workshop to co-design an agricultural drought monitoring platform in Mali

The International Water Management Institute (IWMI), in collaboration with the Direction Nationale de l'Agriculture (DNA) and with the support of FAO, have organized a workshop to co-develop an agricultural drought monitoring and management platform using WaPOR remote sensing data.

The tool enables stakeholders to navigate and proactively respond to drought challenges. Droughts pose a major threat to agricultural livelihoods in Mali and have a negative impact on food security and economic stability. Accurate and timely drought monitoring and management are crucial for early warning and effective response.

During various consultations for the WaPOR project in Mali, DNA highlighted the urgent need for an agricultural drought monitoring and management platform. This platform will make it possible to identify drought-affected areas and assess the impact on yields of staple crops such as rice, maize, sorghum, millet and fonio during the rainy season. The main objective is to improve the documentation of national agricultural statistics and to formulate strategic recommendations to improve decision-making in drought management in Mali. 

The workshop was held on March 21, 2024, at the Hotel de l'Amitie, Bamako.