MONTHLY FEED THE FUTURE REPORT FEED THE FUTURE MALI CEREAL VALUE CHAIN PROJECT (AID-688-C-13-00002) OCTOBER 2015 REPORT

DISCLAIMER

The author’s views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of the United States Agency for International Development or the United States Government.

INTRODUCTION

This report covers the period from September 20 to October 20, 2015. The main activities carried out by the Feed the Future Mali Cereal Value Chain (CVC) project during this period were the following: - Rice marketing evaluation workshop 2014/2015 in Mopti; - Assessment of sales of crop protection products; - Installation of yield measurement plots; - Discussion of gross margins in rice; - Meetings with cereal traders in Sikasso and Mopti; - Support to the Federation for Rural Development of Youwarou; - Training of vulnerable groups on simple and low cost technologies; - TRAINING; - Support mission to M&E team in Mopti; - Supervision M&E data collection by DRA in Koro and Bankass - Analysis of yields, gross margins and sales volumes: - Capitalization and planning workshop in Bamako - Working session with USAID; - Meeting with the national scientific coordinators team of Institut d’Economie Rurale (IER); - Participation in Open Day organized by the SOPROSA; - Co-organization of the visit of the Ambassador of the United States of America to Niéna; - Meeting with IOS Partners - Meetings with USAID Climate Change Program

IR 1: AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIVITY IN IRRIGATED AND DRYLAND SYSTEMS INCREASED

Rice marketing evaluation workshop 2014/2015 in Mopti: The rice marketing evaluation workshop under the WFP (World Food Program) market, held on 17 and 18 September 2015 in the conference room of the “Conseil Régional de Mopti”, regrouped 56 POs who had sold paddy to the mini rice mill Planet Distribution during the pro- duction season 2014/15. Most of the POs that had contracts with Planet Distribution are member of the Federation de Développement Rural de Youwarou (FDRY), others to the Federation d’ Unions de Sociétés Coopératives des Cercles de Youwarou et Niafounké (FUSCOCYN). Overall, the 56 POs provided 1331 MT of paddy for a total amount of Completed by purchases of 1669 MT of paddy with other producers, Planet Distribution sold 1861 MT of white rice (92% of the contract) to the World Food Programme for about .

Assessment of sales of crop protection products: The Bamako based GRN manager and the millet and sorghum value chain manager visited pesticide dealers, ICRISAT, and IFDC in Bamako to assess the sale of crop protection products in the Sikasso and Mopti regions and assess the conformity of pesticides with PERSUAP. A table on conformity is being pre- pared for distribution to the regional partners.

Installation of yield measurement plots:

In anticipation of the upcoming harvest season, the installation of yield measurement plots in the CVC intervention areas was continuing by field extension staff and temporary laborers in collaboration with farmers. Monitoring mis-

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sions by regional staff showed that the instructions (3 plots of 5*5 m2 per producer, 3 producers per village) were correctly implemented. Up to date Sikasso installed 1958 plots (out of 3179 planned). The Mopti team is in the pro- cess of installing about 800 measurement plots with support from DRA and ORM.

Discussion of gross margins in rice: On Wednesday September 30th, the Bamako based technical team discussed a mission report of the rice value chain manager on Village Irrigated Perimeters (VIPs) with the crop budgets for 12 cooperatives in the Mopti region. The mission reported an average gross margin of ) per hec- tare. As the report clearly showed the urgent need for replacement of the irrigation pumps for many cooperatives, the crop budgets from the VIP mission were also used to further refine the analysis of the viability of the proposed mo- tor-pumps for irrigation. The figures show a high profitability for renewal of the pumps, especially when off-season production is included.

IR 2: MARKETS AND TRADE EXPANDED

Meetings with cereal traders in Sikasso and Mopti

CVC organized two workshops, on 14/15 September in Sikasso and on 19/20 September in Mopti to meet with trad- ers and discuss their actual and potential involvement in the cereal value chains. Invited were traders who regularly purchase large quantities of sorghum and millet in the project areas. The workshop in Sikasso regrouped 23 traders, the one in Mopti (Sévaré) regrouped 18 traders.

The workshops allowed establishing first contacts and initiate a positive dialogue and collaborative links between the project and the traders. These contacts and collaborations will lead to targeted actions to strengthen the organizational and financial capacity of traders who buy with OP-partners in the project. Well performing traders contribute to strengthening the value chain and broadening and deepening of grain markets in accordance with the objective of USAID CVC Project.

At the time of the workshops, only a small part (about 20%) was established as formal businesses known to tax ser- vices. There is a strong need for support to traders on issues such as the formalization of their enterprises, advice on contracting, information on trade regulations, storage techniques and warehouse management.

The workshops allowed also to complete an inventory and have detailed information on each of the participating enterprises: the status of the company, characteristics and volumes of purchases and sales, links with POs, difficulties associated with storage and transportation of cereals, experience with contracting, collaboration networks and associa- tions, and issues related to the regulatory and institutional obstacles.

The workshop was also intended to promote debate among traders in working groups to enable them to discuss issues of common interest among them. Traders who participated in these workshops emphasized that never before they had had such a possibility to exchange with colleagues/competitors.

Support to the Federation for the Rural Development of Youwarou : The CVC project worked extensively with producers of the Federation de Développement Rural de Youwarou (FDRY), the input provider/mini rice mill Planet Distribution in Mopti and the bank BMS to finalize a credit construction that allows the member cooperatives of FDRY to purchase 113 motor pumps, representing a total investment of about to be installed in the village irrigated perimeters during the months of October and November 2015. The pumps will serve about 4000 hectares cultivated by about 10,000 producers. CVC will eventually contribute via a small subsidy on the total costs by a 50% Monthly Feed the Future Report 2

contribution to the initial down-payment by the cooperatives. While waiting for clearance about administrative proce- dures, actors in the field have decided to not wait any longer and act. By the end of the reporting periods about 50 pumps have already been installed.

IR3: RESILIENCE OF VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES AND HOUSEHOLDS INCREASED

Training of vulnerable groups on simple and low-cost technologies: In early October 2015, the project has as- sisted vulnerable groups in the regions of Sikasso and Mopti by training on simple and low cost production tech- niques. Of the 5,000 targeted vulnerable households, 4,550 were trained on the use of hand-weeders in rice, post- harvest handling and storage techniques, soil erosion control and compost making, good production practices and access to agricultural credit. In the PIVs near Mopti the training also included the use of an oxen drawn leveling bar.

IR4: LOCAL CAPACITIES AND SYSTEMS STRENGTHENED

Monitoring of ongoing training activities: During the reporting period, activities of CVC’s training sections was limited to monitoring of ongoing cascade training for vulnerable groups and an evaluation of the effectiveness of the Sell More For More training in Mopti. The cascade training was well implemented by CVC field staff. The coopera- tives that have participated the SMFM training have developed action plans that are progressively being implemented.

MONITORING & EVALUATION

Support mission to M&E team in Mopti: From October 1st-9th, the Bamako based M&E Manager supported CVC’s Mopti team in the screening of M&E data and data entry into the M1E data base.

Monitoring and Evaluation Data collection in Koro and Bankass: On October 07, 2015, The Mopti based M&E specialist visited the Heads of the Agriculture in Koro and Bankass to ensure the collection of data by the government extension field in order to update CVC annual report database.

Analysis of yields, gross margins and sales volumes: On October 28, 2015 the Bamako based technical team held a meeting to review yields, gross margins and volume of sale for Year II and discuss the quality and the presentation of the data in the Annual Report. It was agreed that to ensure transparency of the variance, all the basic descriptive statistics such as the mean, the median, the maximum, the minimum and the quartiles should be presented in a sum- mary table in the Annual Report. PROJECT MANAGEMENT

Capitalization and planning workshop in Bamako: From October 12 – 17 technical staff from the Bamako office and representatives of the technical teams of the regional offices discussed draft annual reports, results and learning points of Year 2 of the project, and made a detailed planning of activities for the period October 2015 – January 2016.

Working session with USAID : On October 15th 2015, CVC’s COP and DCOP, accompanied by from ACDOVOCA’s HQ (on STTA assignment to support the CVC team) met with M to discuss initial reactions on the CVC draft annual work plan for FY 2016 that was sub- mitted on September 1st. The results of the exchanges allowed for submitting a final draft of the FY 2016 on Monday October 19th.

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COORDINATION AND COLLABORATION

Meeting with the national scientific coordinators team of Institut d’Economie Rurale (IER): In order to fol- low-up the research activities of IER under the 2015/2015 cropping year, the CVC regional coordination of Mopti has received a national mission on October 2, 2015. The visiting team was composed of

Discussions focused on the MoU signed between USAID CVC Project and CRRA / Mopti during 2014/2015 cropping year related to the train- ing on rice seed producers and dissemination of varieties adapted to the Village Irrigated Perimeters (PIV). More spe- cifically, the achievements, difficulties and possibilities for future collaboration were discussed.

Participation in the Open Day organized by the SOPROSA (Improved-Seed Production Company): On Oc- tober 7, 2015 USAID CVC Project Sikasso, based Millet and Sorghum Specialist participated to the “Open day” organized by SOPROSA with the support of DRA “Direction Régionale de l’Agriculture” and CCRA “Centre Régionale de Recherche Agronomique”. SOPROSA aims to sustainably increase cereals production by broadening the range of varieties and the quantity of certified cereal seeds. SOPROSA plans to make improved seeds available to the rural poor, while ensuring the profitability of the sector. SOPRASA is active in Sikasso for 2 years and is involved in the production and marketing of cereals, the use of improved seeds and the establishment of improved marketing channels. It began to sensitize farmers about the benefits of the using of certified seeds through radio (at a cost of per year). SOPROSA has significant quantities of stored sorghum seeds: the varieties Tiandougou, Grinkan Yerewolo, Grinkan Pollination Open (PO), etc. The field visits were conducted in Fachoribougou, Mama- bougou and Kaboila villages, commune of Kaboïla. Three plots were visited, including 1 plot of hybrid seed produc- tion in Kaboïla. During the visit discussions focused on hybrid production techniques, the difference between import- ed hybrid seeds and those produced by the Institute of Rural Economy (IER), the difference between hybrid seeds and genetically modified organisms. There were over 100 participants from POs. Follow-up contacts between CVC and SOPROSA are planned to identify possible collaboration.

Co-organization of the visit of the Ambassador of the United States of America to Niéna in Sikasso Region: USAID/Mali requested the FTF Mali CVC Project and IFDC to lead the organization of the visit by the US ambas- sador to the on October 8th 2015. The Value Chain Competi- tiveness Director and CVC Sikasso staff travelled to Niena for the preparation of the visit together with IFDC repre- sentatives. Two days prior to the visit a full day meeting was arranged by the FTF Mali CVC Project to discuss with the members and the board the current major achievements and the current issues. These discussion lead to the pro- duction of a summary note that was distributed to the visitors. The event featured summary presentations by the pres- ident of COFRN, the , followed by visit of the urea pellet making machinery and a visit to the rice field near the side of the road. The visit by the Ambassador brought about a positive mobilization and motivation event where the cooperative shared its vision and the partners shared their analysis and strategies. The visit also showed the im- portance of the collaboration between IFDC and the FTF Mali CVC Project in terms of support to rice production. IFDC emphasized that the deep urea placement economizes significantly on fertilizer use and makes for better tasting and a more resistant rice while reducing weed infestation and underwater nitrogen contamination due to fertilizer runoffs. The FTF Mali CVC project emphasized the importance of supporting market expansion measures, rice pro- duction equipments especially levelers, seeders, and weeders in addition to ensuring the continuation of the excellent record of the Cooperative with BNDA over the past 5 years. The Ambassador appreciated the efforts made for the visit and congratulated the participants and the organizers. He tested the deep urea placement applicator and was keen

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to know about yields and labor requirements in the rice fields. Among the about 150 attendees to the visit, there were members of the COFRN, staff of those of the DRA and CMDT, and administrative and traditional authorities.

Meeting with IOS Partners: On October 8th 2015, and the impact evaluation team of IOS partners visited the CVC office to explain progress in the finalization of their implementation plan. As the proposed working method might exclude some villages in the FtF zone from support by CVC, final approval by USAID is still needed. informed the CVC team that provisional results of focus group interviews show a very positive image of CVC among beneficiaries.

Meetings with USAID Climate Change Program: On October 12th 2015, CVC’s COP and DCOP met with , Environmental specialist of USAID Mali about the recently started Mali Climate Chance Adaptation Facility, production constraints in Mopti area, the potential use of data to be collected by Mali Meteo, and CVC interventions in Mopti. On October 20th 2015 CVC’s COP and DCOP had a follow-up meeting with Discussed were the potential use of Sectorial Development Plans and Local Development Plans, and the challenge to bridge the gap between short term constraints and needs and a long vision on climate change.

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