Amélioration de la Riziculture Paysanne à l'Office de Niger/Improvement of Rice Production in the Office of Niger
Project / Programme Summary

1. Objectives
   Long-term
   • Increase of rice production and productivity on the 50,000 hectares irrigated perimeter of the Office du Niger (parastatal irrigation board), leading to improved living conditions of the rural population in a durable and equal manner and to a strengthening of food security in Mali.
   • Strengthening of farmer's organizations in order to increase their part in the rural development process in line with the national policy.
     
     
   short-term
   • Strengthening farmers and their organizations with a special attention to women and development;
   • Improvement of water-management and maintenance of hydraulic infrastructures;
   • rehabilitation of the primary irrigation system in Kouramari;
   • successful restructuration process of the Office du Niger;
   • strengthening privatised autonomous structures such as a tractor workshop, a assembly-plant of farm implements; a training-centre, a seedfarm and a credit unit.
2. Activities / contents
   The activities can be grouped as follows:
   • activities related to the strengthening of socio-economic position of the rural population, such as training Office du Niger's staff in extension, monitoring and technical skills; training rural leaders in managing farmer's organizations; improvement of the position of women by giving them access to irrigated land, by alphabetization and access to credit;
   • activities related to improved water-management and maintenance hydraulic infrastructure such as training Office du Niger's staff in data collection/interpretation; introduction/application computerized water-management models; training farmers in maintenance tertiary irrigationsystems; rehabilitation secondary irrigationsystems;
   • activities related to privatisation of the Office du Niger's autonomous structures such as a tractor workshop, a assembly plant of farm implements; a training center, a seedfarm and a credit unit;
   • activities related to the restucturation process of the Office du Niger, such as contributing to the budget of the delegation in charge of the restructuration and to funding the lay off of redundant staff.
3. Expected outcomes / impacts
   Rice production and productivity have known an gradual increase and paddy production is around 5 tons per hectare at the moment.
   The revenues related to rice production have substantially increased by: a better productivity; removing control on marketing; the devaluation of the FCFA; controling rice imports.
   The socio-economical position of women has been improved by their access to irrigated land and credit, but also by activities such as transplanting paddy seedlings and growing of vegetables.
   The performance of farmer's associations has been improved, which resulted in; a better marketing of their products; improved repayments of debts; better provisioning of intrants.
   Water-management and maintenance hydraulic structures have considerably been improved. Annual maintenance programs for the primary and secondary irrigationsystems are executed for 100%. The rehabilitation of the primary irrigationsystem in the Kouroumari zone has been executed.
   The privatised autonomous structures operate satisfactory.
   The restructuration of the Office du Niger has been successfully completed.
4. Features in line with the Agenda for Action
   

Royal Dutch Embassy
Bamako, Mali
Bink J. T. van Walsem