Given the harsh climatic conditions, drought which has become endemic, the scarcity and fragility of natural resources, and the strong demographic pressure that weaken the living conditions of rural populations in Mali, an Ecofarm project has been developed in the regions of Ségou (Katiéna commune), Koulikoro (Sanankoroba) and in the circles of Bandiagara, Koro, Djenné and Bankass. This project aims at creating synergetic and complimentary conditions between technologies that in isolation would not bring any sustainable solutions to the problems of poor people. The goal of this project is to develop a sustainable agricultural system in pilot villages and to transfer this technology to other villages and regions in the different ecological zones of the country during winter 2006. These farms made up of agriculture, livestock breeding, and forestry activities based on soil fertility management will contribute to increasing farmers’ incomes, food security and quality, and to protect/ increase biodiversity by encouraging degraded land development while integrating local know-how and scientific knowledge.

This year’s activities aim at continuing those started in 2005, the adaptation of the technologies to the farming practices, the integration of other activities that have been proven in other areas while encouraging synergy between the different technologies and an economic study to better appreciate the impacts of these practices at the population level. The following activities are planned for this year:

• Tests of seed soaking in combination with the microdose technique ;
• Tests of association of cowpea/ sorghum or cowpea/millet ;
• Setting up of a village grove with species such as Acacia collei, Acacia tumida, Albizia lebbeck, and Acacia coming from especially in the northern sites (Mopti zone) to produce gum Arabic;
• Planting of Acacia tumida windbreakers;
• Increase in the number of Moringa, baobab, Gliricidia, Zizyphus, and cowpea shoots for the test farmers and setting up of tree nurseries to produce seedlings to add to the groves;
• Intercropping of cowpea/ millet or sorghum/ cowpea and the use of methods such as seed soaking and microdosing as a base for a livestock fattening program (especially important for women).

The research institutes ICRAF and Noragric in collaboration with the NGOs AMAPROS, KILABO, and CARE/PACOB are participating in the planning and implementation of this phase of the project. The Ecofarm approach is also being implemented in Ethiopia and in Sudan. For more information on the Ecofarm approach, please read the following report and visit this webpage.

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