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A study was undertaken in 1998 in Macina and Bafaloubé to assess the constraints and opportunities for improved soil fertility management practices. It was observed that one of the major constraints farmers are facing is low soil fertility and yields have been declining in the last 20 years. It was therefore proposed to develop a project on Integrated Plant Nutrition Management to address the problem of declining soil fertility. The basic principles of Integrated Plant Nutrition Management (IPNM) are to maximize the utilization of organic material, minimize the losses of plant nutrients and judicious use of inorganic fertilizers based on needs.  The IPNM technologies that have been tested in the year 2000 has been point application (micro doses) of inorganic fertilizers (applying fertilizers only to the planting pocket), reclamation of degraded soil by the zaï method, making of enriched composts, and urea treatment of straw for animal fodder.  These methods have been tested in on–farm participatory research among 29 farmers in the Macina area and among 19 farmers in. Farmers are encouraged to make their own judgment of the technology. The results were judged based on yield measurement and field observation by the researchers. Results were discussed in a joint workshop between the farmers, NGO staff and researchers. 

The study has identified farming practices that are promising for increasing yields and farmers income and at the same time sustaining soil quality. The project also increased farmers’ own capacity to test new technologies and develop new technologies. It is important to continue the activities in order to document better the quantitative results and to involve more farmers.