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AFC has been working for a number of years in the irrigation sector in Mali, with a particular focus on small scale irrigation in order to increase the incomes of smallholders and actors engaged in irrigation based value chains (rice, vegetables etc.). Within the GIZ- funded PASSIP Programme we have been supporting since 2011 both the development of training curricula tailor-made for Malian small-scale irrigation, and the training of trainers including actors from both the public and private sectors (service providers, extension staff etc).
We are pleased to announce that since the 1st of October 2014 we have also begun supporting the Agricultural Training centre Institut Polytechnique Rural de Formation et de Recherche Appliquée de Kabtibougou IPR/IFRA, located at Katibougou (around an hour from Bamako). The objective of the project is for it to become a regional centre for innovation within the agriculture sector. We are assisting the IPR/IFRA along three axes:
- Developing innovations for sustainable development of vegetable, rice, mango and banana value chains: this involves improving IPR/IFRA’s ability to conduct applied research, and in particular developing a mechanism for the diffusion of identified results in order to increase uptake of improved practices among smallholder farms.
- Improving the range and the quality of trainings provided: from practical applied training for farmers, to MSc and PhD courses.
- Developing national, regional and international partnerships with regards to agricultural innovation: this involves working with both public and private sector actors in order to increase knowledge sharing, and to identify opportunities for applying new innovations in other countries.
The project will run for 30 months and we are excited at the opportunity to help build IPR/IFRA’s role in driving innovation within the agriculture sector in Mali and the region.
For further details please contact Ms Holly Hufnagel
Holly.Hufnagel [at] afci.de