MONTHLY REPORT – AUGUST 2017

FEED THE FUTURE CEREAL VALUE CHAIN PROJECT CONTRACT NUMBER AID-688-C-13-00002 COR USAID: AMADOU DIANE CHIEF OF PARTY: RICHARD COOK

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. ii

CONTENTS IR1: AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIVITY IN IRRIGATED AND DRYLAND SYSTEMS improved ...... 6 Production and productivity of rice and millet value chains ...... 6 Mopti PO input supply ...... 6 Producer training on new technologies and good production practices by agricultural technical services in the Mopti rice and millet zone ...... 6 Monitoring the 2017/2018 agricultural season ...... 6 Training on the use of the animal traction leveling bar ...... 7 CAT member training on technologies and good agricultural practices using training posters ...... 7 Distribution of fertilizer for demonstration plots ...... 7 Producer training in improved technologies and good agricultural practices in the Alatona area ...... 7 Monitoring progress of the agricultural season in the Alatona area ...... 8 Training workshops for the mobilization of irrigation system maintenance funds for 23 dam sites ...... 8 Production and productivity of millet/sorghum value chains ...... 8 Training in the establishment and management of demonstration plots and in the use of millet production training posters...... 8 Training in new technologies and good agricultural practices by using millet, sorghum training posters ...... 8 Distribution of fertilizer for millet and sorghum demonstration plots ...... 8 Producer training on the installation and management of millet and sorghum demonstration plots ...... 9 Production and Waste management ...... 9 Training of trainers on cleaner production and waste management practices...... 9 IR2: MARKETS AND TRADE EXPANDED ...... 9 Training of processing units and traders in marketing and business management ...... 9 Training of parboiled rice traders and cooperatives in the parboiled rice specifications for the Guinean markets of Conakry and Kankan ...... 9 Training in formal commercial contracting and management of market information ...... 10 Monitoring the execution of delivery contracts of parboiled rice for the Guinean market ...... 10 Situation of the 2017-2018 agricultural season regarding credit mobilization ...... 10 Situation of outstanding credit for the 2016 - 2017 agricultural season: ...... 10 IR3. RESILIENCE OF VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES AND HOUSEHOLDS INCREASED ...... 11 Training of trainers on climate change adaptation strategies ...... 11 Training of producers on nutrition based on millet/cowpea and moringa from July 15th to 16th ...... 11 Training in improved cowpea/millet and moringa processing techniques...... 11 Mobilization of S4C (Saving for Change) funds for financing agricultural activities ...... 12 IR4. LOCAL CAPACITIES AND SYSTEMS STRENGTHENED ...... 12 Training of agricultural schools in basic concepts of value chains and in SMFM techniques...... 12 MONITORING & EVALUATION...... 12 GENDER ...... 13 Exchange field visit of Mopti women rice parboilers to Dioro (Ségou) ...... 13 Involvement of women in the implementation of CVC activities ...... 13 Meeting with mentors on July 24th...... 13 iii

Environment...... 14 Training of DRA and CMDT agents on the EMMP, PERSUAP, and erosion control techniques ...... 14 COORDINATION AND COLLABORATION ...... 14 Joint monitoring mission of the 2017/2018 agricultural campaign ...... 14 Participation in the opening ceremony of the advocacy office of the Mali Justice Project ...... 14 COMMUNICATION ...... 14 Workshop to finalize the concept of job promotion for young people in rural areas ...... 14 The meeting of communication champions ...... 14

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ACRONYM LIST

AECOM AECOM Technology Corporation AVRDC World Vegetable Center BDS/ Business Development Service/Sikasso BOA Bank of Africa CAT Community Agri-business Team COFERSA Convergence des Femmes pour la Sécurité Alimentaire CPC Coopératives de Producteurs de Coton CRS Catholic Relief Service CVECA/ON Caisses Villagéoises d’Epargnes et de Crédit Agricoles/Office du Niger CVC Projet Chaîne de Valeurs Céréales DIGNAFRIC Digne Afrique NGO DRA Direction Régional de l’Agriculture DRS-CES Direction Régionale Service social et économique FASCO Foire Agricole et Commerciale d Sikasso FFSWE Finance for Food Security and Women Entrepreneurs FtF Feed the Future GAP Good Agricultural Practices IFDC International Fertilizer Development Center L4G Livestock for Growth MCCAA Mali Climate Change Adaptation Activity M4 PO’s Self-diagnosis tool (Sell more for more) ME Monitoring and Evaluation ORM Office Riz de Mopti OHADA Organisation pour l’Harmonisation En Afrique du Droit des Affaires P4P Projet Achat pour le progrès PFP Program for Professional Training PO Producer Organization SAFER Salon de la Femme Rurale SRI Système de Riziculture Intensif VIP Village Irrigated Perimeter WFP World Food Program

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Yorosso, Alatona, Mopti, Koro, and Bankass production areas. The objective was to assess the progress of crop establishment for the agricultural season. The CVC team held discussions with 87 producers including 19 women. The major findings were: (i) more millet demonstration plots were established than planned, (ii) transplanting/sowing rice seed continued in VIPs and in lowland rice systems due to high rainfall and rising water levels, and (iii) more than a dozen technologies and good agricultural practices(GAP) were being applied: seeds (improved varieties and hybrids), Ecofert organic Fertilizer, herbicides, PNT (Natural Phosphates of Tilemsi), agricultural lime, online sowing (with the seed drill, with rope, with the micro-dose seeder), SRI, NPK Chemical Fertilizer, mil/sorghum-Cowpea Association, (iv) effective collaboration between FtF/CVC and EUCORD (European Cooperative for Rural Development) regarding the establishment of demonstration plots, (v) the significant contribution of improved seeds by the agricultural services through the WAAP seed distribution program ( received 300 kg of sorghum seed (MSC-63-E-Jacumbè variety); the DRA-Mopti provided cowpea seed), (vi) access by some producers in to sorghum seed (hybrid variety of Pablo and Sewa) improved, and (vii) strong adoption of the leveling bar by the producers in the Komio and Sensé rice producing areas.

Training on the use of the animal traction leveling bar 90 producers, including 14 women (16%), from the SYN, Perou, and Kouin were trained on the use of animal traction leveling bar on July 24th in SYN (Djenné) in order to promote the benefits of using the leveling bar in VIP production systems, and encourage POs to acquire them.

CAT member training on technologies and good agricultural practices using training posters CVC trained 130 CAT members from 65 women lowland rice POs of the Bougouni, , Koutiala, Sikasso, and districts from July 14th through 26th to improve their training techniques using good rice production practices’ posters .

Distribution of fertilizer for demonstration plots From July 22nd to August 9th, 28 producers, including 16 women, benefitted from provision of fertilizer for their demonstration plots in Bougouni, Sikasso, and Alatona. CVC distributed a total of 1,500 tons of fertilizer (100% organic ECOFERT [the name of fertilizers provided by “Mali Engrais Company”]) to 10 women lowland rice producers and 10 men in Alatona. This provision of fertilizer is the result of a CVC partnership with Mali Engrais Company. In addition, 8 producers, including 6 women, benefited from a total of 2,500 tons of agricultural lime for 2.5 ha of demomstration plots from the Stones enterprise.

Producer training in improved technologies and good agricultural practices in the Alatona area From July 21st to 28th, CVC trained 996 producers, including 226 women, from 61 POs. Using training posters, the topics covered in the training sessions included: (i) the installation of the nurseries, (ii) soil preparation, (iii) transplanting, (iv) crop maintenance, (v) fertilization, (vi) irrigation, and (vii) harvesting. Sixty-six rural trainers (CAT members) led the training, supported by agri-business coaches in the organization, preparation, and conduct of the training sessions. The agri-business coaches supervised the training sessions.

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Monitoring progress of the agricultural season in the Alatona area From July 12th to August 10th, the project carried out monitoring activities on the evolution of crop establishment for the 2017 campaign in the Alatona area. Field observation included: (1) Installation of 36 ha of GAP diffusion plots (improved seed, nurseries, plowing, transplanting, and use of mineral fertilizer); (2) Large-scale dissemination of GAP on 3,351 ha; (3) The installation by producer-demonstrators of 36 hectares under GAP with the use of improved seed, nursery installation, plowing, planting, transplanting, and the use of mineral fertilizer.

In addition, 36 POs had supplied their members with 1,005.3 tons of fertilizer (20,106 bags), including 670.35 tons of urea and 334.95 tons of DAP.

Training workshops for the mobilization of irrigation system maintenance funds for 23 dam sites From July 24th to 27th, CVC trained 145 producers, including 82 women, from 19 POs, including 15 female POs in , , Zégoua and Fanidiama on the mobilization of irrigation system maintenance funds in 23 dam sites in the . A. The overall objective of the training was to define strategies for mobilizing funds for the maintenance of dams and associated infrastructures. The training taught producers how to: (i) identify dam degradation factors and propose repair solutions, (ii) identify and register dam users, and (iii) manage fees to be paid by users.

Production and productivity of millet/sorghum value chains

Training in the establishment and management of demonstration plots and in the use of millet production training posters From July 25th to 26th, CVC trained 1880CAT members, including 39 women. on the establishment and management of demonstration plots and in the use of millet production training posters in Koro and Bankass. The objective was to trainCAT members who will then train producers within their associated POs and effectively assist them throughout the production campaign.

Training in new technologies and good agricultural practices by using millet, sorghum training posters From July 14th to 26th, CVC trained 428 CAT members, including 32 women, representing 215 POs from the Bougouni, Kadiolo, Koutiala, Sikasso, , and Yorosso districts. The overall objective of this training was to equip CAT members of CVC partner POs with adult training techniques using training posters illustrating good agricultural practices for sorghum and millet.

Distribution of fertilizer for millet and sorghum demonstration plots From July 22nd to August 9th, with support of CVC, millet and sorghum producers received significant quantities of fertilizer for their demonstration plots in the Bougouni, Koutiala, Sikasso, Yanfolila, and Yorosso districts. Through the CVC partnership with the Stones enterprise, 2.5 tons of agricultural lime were distributed to 5 producers for 2.5 ha. In addition, as part of partnership development with EUCORD, 10 bags of fertilizer, 9 bags of DAP ,and 1 bag of urea were distributed for the fertilization of 144 millet/sorghum demonstration plots and 59 cowpea plots in the Bougouni district. The producers used the fertilizer on 5.76 ha for millet/sorghum and 2.95 ha for cowpea.

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Producer training on the installation and management of millet and sorghum demonstration plots From July 15th to 25th, CVC trained producer-demonstrators on the installation and management of millet and sorghum demonstration plots in the Sikasso, Bougouni, Kadiolo Koutiala, and Yorosso districts. 550 participants, including 286 producers and 264 CAT members, including a total of 50 women, from 229 millet/sorghum POs attended the training sessions. The training enabled producers to establish 318 demonstration plots (114 in millet and 204 in sorghum). In fact, 59 plots of cowpea were established in the Bougouni district in collaboration with EUCORD.

Production and Waste management

Training of trainers on cleaner production and waste management practices During the reporting period, CVC trained 66 business representatives on cleaner production and waste management practices. The objective of the training was to incorporate the concepts of cleaner production into the production, processing, and commercialization practices of the project's agricultural enterprise partners with the objective of minimizing waste production (liquid and solid). Based on field work and lectures, CVC trained 38 people (15 men and 23 women) in Sévaré on July 21st. The participants were treasurers, secretaries, marketing managers, store managers of processing units, or wholesalers. In Sikasso, the training involved 28 participants, including 10 women, from the Bougouni, Koutiala, Niono, Yanfolila, and Yorosso districts. The participants comprised 10 producers, including 2 women, 11 traders, including 2 women, and 7 processing unit holders, including 6 women. This training strengthened the understanding of agri-businesses regarding the environmental impact of their business operations and awareness of some measures to mitigate these negative impacts.

IR2: MARKETS AND TRADE EXPANDED Training of processing units and traders in marketing and business management On July 18th, 19thand 20th, CVC trained 38 members of processing units and traders, including 21 women (54%) in marketing and business management in Mopti. The overall objective of the training was to strengthen capacities of MSMEs' operators in marketing and business management. It was specifically aimed at making participants aware of the need to understand: (i) the difference between business resources and family resources, ii) the basics of accounting, iii) basic cost calculations, iv) the basic management of inventory, and (v) the fundamentals of marketing.

In Sikasso, CVC conducted similar training and 18 people, including 5 women, benefited. The distribution of participants were as follows: (i) 16 traders, including 2 women, and (ii) 3 grain processors from the Koutiala, Yanfolila, Bougouni, Sikasso, and Kadiolo districts.

Training of parboiled rice traders and cooperatives in the parboiled rice specifications for the Guinean markets of Conakry and Kankan On July 10th, CVC trained 19 producers, including 17 women, from 4 rice production and processing cooperatives ( ). The objective of the training was to equip participants with the basic skills to understand product requirements of Malian parboiled rice for the Guinean markets, basic elements of supply contracts, and the demand requirements (characteristics) necessary for penetrating the targeted Guinean markets of Kankan and Conakry. Issues addressed included: (i) adding value to

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of households through capacity building of women, members of vulnerable groups, on culinary techniques for high nutritionally-valued foodstuffs. The various foods prepared were: (i) couscous with cowpea and millet, (ii) moringa leaf sauce with fish, (iii) cowpea salad, and (iv) cowpea cake with wheat flour.

Mobilization of S4C (Saving for Change) funds for financing agricultural activities From July 12th to August 10th, CVC facilitated the mobilization of . The women mobilized these funds to purchase agricultural inputs (pesticides, fertilizers, etc.) and plowing costs to cultivate over 71 ha.

IR4. LOCAL CAPACITIES AND SYSTEMS STRENGTHENED

Training of agricultural schools in basic concepts of value chains and in SMFM techniques From July 17th to 22nd, the project trained 206 people including, 185 students (121 boys and 64 girls) and 21 teachers (14 men and 7 women) in the basic concepts of value chain and Sell More For More (SMFM) training modules in Bougouni, Sikasso, and Koutiala.f . The beneficiary institutions were: (i) the Agro-Pastoral Institute of Bougouni, II) the Cité Verte IFAP-CV agro-pastoral Training Institute of Sikasso , the Institute of Training in Rural engineering of Sikasso and III) the Vocational Training Institute Malik Sidibé of Koutiala (IFP-MSK).

MONITORING & EVALUATION Annual survey 2016-2017 CVC launched requests for proposals and recruited an external consulting firm for the implementation of its annual survey. This survey is intended to complete data collection for the calculation of incremental sales and gross margins for the 2017 cropping season. Within this context, CVC made available to the consultant data sets and lists of producers in the sampled group, as well as a revised methodology and data collection forms for survey implementation. The consultant trained their survey staff, pre-tested data collection forms, and revised accordingly. The survey in Sikasso began on August 4th and in Mopti on August 7th. The CVC monitoring and evaluation team in , Mopti and Sikasso is closely monitoring field data collection in order to rapidly resolve any collection problems and ensure data quality.

Meeting with Technical Services on the placement of yield squares On July 26th, CVC held a meeting between the CVC Project and its technical partners (public sector field services) to finalize the methodology for determining the sampling frame and placing yield measurement squares for the survey for the 2017-2018 campaign. The random placement of yield measurement squares was demonstrated to all partners using the ABC method for yield squares placement to standardize the practice throughout CVC zones of influence. The meeting allowed participants to: • Have a consistent and coherent understanding of the placement methodology adopted for sampling producer fields and ensuring coherent data collection across CVC’s targeted production systems; • Understand the method of selecting individual producers within the sampling frame by using a table of random numbers; and • Develop an implementation calendar for the placement of yield squares in the field of targeted producers.

12 USAID Data Quality Assessment mission: On July 27th, the project received a USAID mission to verify data quality (DQA). The DQA, focused on 8 indicators, dealt mainly with issues related to the understanding of indicators, the process of data collection, entry, and analysis. The indicators concerned included those related to: training, gender, Public Private Partnerships, number of households assisted, rural loans, incremental sales, number of beneficiary producer organizations, nutrition, and gross margin. The major conclusion was that CVC has a responsibility in clarifying and documenting the entire process for data collection, verification, entry, and analysis for each indicator and that this methodology needs to be updated in the project’s monitoring, evaluation, and learning plan (MELP).

GENDER

Exchange field visit of Mopti women rice parboilers to Dioro (Ségou)

From August 8th to 9th, the project organized a field visit for 18 female parboilers from Mopti to Dioro to strengthen their capacity by increasing their knowledge of the parboiled rice supply chain and major marketing circuits. Specifically, the visit allowed the visitors to discuss the experiences of other women groups in the parboiled rice sector and gain technical knowledge to take back to their cooperative members. The visit focused on an exchange with the Dioro women's rice parboilers regarding parboiling techniques and building professional relationships between parboilers.

Involvement of women in the implementation of CVC activities

From July 12th to August 10th, CVC trained 2,045 people, including 741 women (37%) in the Sikasso region and the Alatona area. The project trained women in establishing and managing demonstration plots, and in this regard: • 49 women installed 49 lowland rice demonstration plots • In the Alatona area, 3 women installed demonstration plots for a total of 1.5 ha.

Meeting with mentors on July 24th

In order to strengthen the leadership and influence of women in the household, as well as in their cooperatives and professional lives, CVC identified 26 mentors1, who are committed to coaching women producers and processors to promote and facilitate their economic emergence within the family and within their professional setting. Within this context, the project is organizing a meeting for mentors from Sikasso, Mopti and Bamako to meet in order to ensure that awareness messaging is coherent, focused and addresses key issues in the targeted social groups. This brainstorming, strategy meeting is planned for the month of September.

1 Mentors have been identified as those with years of experience in both personal and professional life areas and who are committed to promoting the economic empowerment of women, particularly through awareness and discussions with men regarding the constraints and prejudices faced by women seeking to maximize their contributions to family, profession, and society. Mentors have been identified in Bamako, Mopti, and Sikasso. 13 Environment

Training of DRA and CMDT agents on the EMMP, PERSUAP, and erosion control techniques

During the month, the project trained 31 technical services partners in Sikasso from CMDT and the DRA on the EMMP, PERSUAP, and safe management of pesticides, as well as on Integrated Management of Soil Fertility, that also includes erosion control. CVC held the training on July 29th in the training room of the Centre Saint Jean Bosco in Sikasso. A total of 18 men and 13 women participated in the training, including 10 from the DRA (5 men and 5 women) and 21 from the CMDT (11 from the CMDT- Sikasso including 3 women and 10 from the CMDT-Koutiala including 5 women). The training highlighted the link between CVC project activities and potential negative environmental impacts, as well as the planned mitigation measures along the rice, millet and sorghum value chains as specified in the EMMP and PERSUAP.

COORDINATION AND COLLABORATION Joint monitoring mission of the 2017/2018 agricultural campaign From July 13th to 23rd, the Bougouni, Koutiala, Sikasso, Yorosso districts and the Alatona area received a joint CVC-Bamako and CVC-Sikasso team to assess the effective implementation of demonstration plots for the 2017- 18 agricultural campaign. The mission visited 6 millet and sorghum demonstration plots and 7 rice demonstration plot in the Bougouni, Sikasso, Koutiala and Yorosso districts with a total area of 11.5 ha (6 ha in millet/sorghum and 5.5 ha in rice) including 3 ha in the Alatona zone. The general conclusion was that establishment of the technology diffusion plot network planned for the 2017 campaign was on track.

Participation in the opening ceremony of the advocacy office of the Mali Justice Project On July 9th, the CVC-Sikasso based specialist BDS participated in the opening ceremony of the advocacy office of the Mali Justice Project. The ceremony aimed to present the MJT project, its approach, staff, and program components, specifically as related to efforts to reduce road harassment and promote lobby efforts by organized transport groups.

COMMUNICATION Workshop to finalize the concept of job promotion for young people in rural areas As part of the concept of promoting jobs for young people in rural areas, the “Centre d’Innovation Verte” (CIV/Mali) program initiated a workshop on July 28th at their office of the support program for the local irrigation sub-sector (PASSIP). CVC Communication Manager participated in this workshop. The purpose of the workshop was to identify and analyze job creation opportunities in agricultural value chains (rice, potato, gardening, and mango) promoted by the CIV/Mali program. At the end of the workshop, the following results were achieved: creation of a directory of services for young people (rice, potato, gardening, and mango) and an action plan to assist young people to realize their projects and business ideas. The meeting of communication champions USAID organizes a meeting of communication champions on a quarterly basis. The objective of this meeting was to create an interactive learning environment. In this context, the meeting held on August 1st focused on

14 photographic techniques and the use of social networks. Communication specialists from all USAID-funded projects attended the meeting.

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