A meeting was held in Bamako, Mali last week (June 15/16) to finalize the work plan for the IFAD-EU-CCAFS supported project “Linking agrobiodiversity value chains, climate adaptation and nutrition: Empowering the poor to manage risk”.

The main tasks were to select the target crops and sites in alignment with the aims of the project to benefit nutrition, livelihood resilience and income of poor and marginalized people. Stakeholders from various organizations and farmer groups gathered at the Sotuba Agricultural Regional Research Centre of the Institut d'Economie Rurale (IER) to contribute their perspectives and identify synergies with other efforts in the region.

Much of the discussion over the two days concerned fonio (Digitaria sp.), which will be an important target crop of the project. This species has a much lower water requirement than other cereals and many varieties are early maturing, allowing it to escape drought and provide food before other crops are harvested. It is an important staple in the Sahelian zone and may gain importance in more southern zones with climate change. Dr. Harouna Coulibaly of IER presented the observed trends for climate change in Mali, which has resulted in a general shift of climate zones southward, delayed onset of the rainy season and less precipitation overall.

In addition to its hardiness, fonio is a tasty gluten-free grain with low glycemic index, which makes it suitable for diabetics. The grain is an important source of amino acids found in low levels in other cereals, especially methionine and cystine. It has also been praised for its high iron content but nutritionist Dr. Nadia Fanou-Fogny (University of Abomey Calavi, Benin) presented the results of her PhD research carried out with households in Bamako, which revealed that most of this iron content is washed away with the brown seed coat during processing.

The fine grains of fonio are easily mixed with sand during threshing, which then demands many washing steps. One aim of the project will be to address this processing issue to improve the iron content of the food that is put on the table. Dr. Paolo Ceci (FAO) shared information on ongoing initiatives by CIRAD to develop improved processing technology for fonio, which could be leveraged during the project.

Even with interventions in processing, however, it was debated that promoting vegetables, fruits or pulses in addition to fonio might offer a more substantial contribution to nutrition. Numerous vegetables are grown by farmers in Mali, such as okra (Abelmoschus sp.) and jute mallow (Corchorus olitorius) that with greater use can improve the iron, zinc, vitamin A or vitamin C content of local diets. Focus group discussions early in the project will shed light on the vegetables gathered and cultivated in the target communities and will explore which vegetables will be best to promote for climate hardiness and nutritional values. Bambara groundnut will also be included as a target crop, which provides a good drought tolerant source of protein. 

Under the coordination of Amadou Sidibe (National Coordinator and Head of the Genetic Resources Unit of IER), activities for the project in Mali will aim to promote the cultivation, consumption and conservation of target crops, as well as to build capacity and supportive policies for these activities. The practices farmers are taking to face climate change will be explored and supported with input of new ideas from other communities and scientists. The project will work in six communities in two regions of Mali - Sikasso in the south and Ségou in the east-central part of the country. The sites in Sikasso will build on past and ongoing efforts in the region by IFAD, ICRAF and Bioversity International under CCAFS and the Dryland Agricultural Production Systems CRP.

The meeting program and presentations are available below. The presentations gave a detailed background on the current situation in Mali for agricultural systems, climate change, nutrition, and marketing of traditional crops. Similar meetings will also be taking place this month in India and Guatemala - the other countries participating in this global effort coordinated by Bioversity International.

Related Links

•  Meeting Program  [8] (150 KB)
•  Meeting summary by IER and participants list (French)  [9] (1.3 MB)
• Project webpage  [10]
• Reflections on the meeting in India  [11]
• Reflections on the meeting in Guatemala  [12]
• Nutritious and underutilized species: Fonio  [13]

Presentations

• S Padulosi, Bioversity International.  Objectifs et resultats attendus du project.  [14] (2.0 MB)
• H. Coulibaly, IER.  Changement climatique et gestion de l'agrobiodiversite au Mali.  [15] (951 KB)
• N. Fanou-Fogny, University of Abomey Calavi.  Nutritional aspects of NUS: INCO Fonio project.  [16] (737 KB)
• Sidibe, A and Diatkite, L, IER and R. Vodouhe, Bioversity International.  Utilisation et conservation de la diversite par l'IER et Bioversity International.  [17] (853 KB)
• Dr Lamissa DIAKITE (presented by M. Sidibe), IER.  Chaîne de valeur et commercialisation des céréales au Mali.  [18] (630 KB)
• P. Ceci. Existing efforts on fonio in West Africa:
  • J.F. Cruz, CIRAD. Improvement of post-harvest and enhancement of fonio in Africa: Aval Fonio.
  • A. Barnaud, IRD and C. Billot, CIRAD. Le fonio, un réservoir de diversité pour l'adaptation.
  • T. Ulian, H. Pritchard and M. Sacande.  Kew Gardens work in West Africa.  [19] (706 KB)

• H. Coulibaly.  Changement climatique et vulnerabilite des exploitations  [20] (499 KB)
• A. Sidibe.  Plan de mise en œuvre du projet, proposition de sites, espèces, partenaires et plan de travail  [21] (782 KB)