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Agricultural Practices Promoted and Adopted in Mali
Results of a Survey of Nongovernmental Organizations and Focus Groups of Farmers
Malian farmers constantly modify their agricultural practices to adapt to changes in climate and respond to other dynamics, such as market prices. This brief summarizes a study on the extent to which these farmers are adopting practices promoted by nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) to build climate resilience.
The practices are aimed at improving the variety and quality of agricultural produce.
USAID’s African and Latin American Resilience to Climate Change (ARCC) project did a survey of 30 NGOs based in Bamako to learn which practices they promoted. It also conducted focus groups with farmers in 12 villages across four Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET) zones to learn which practices they adopted.
It found that many NGOs focus their activities on the southern regions of the country, most likely because the north is marked by sparse populations and political instability and there are logistical challenges to working there.
The most important factors to consider when choosing practices to promote appear to be the local context in which the NGOs work, and the livelihoods of the populations they target. Most promote at least one practice that addresses soil fertility, moisture retention, supplemental water or agroforestry.
The brief notes that farmers tend to avoid practices that require higher levels of labor and technical knowledge.
The practices are aimed at improving the variety and quality of agricultural produce.
USAID’s African and Latin American Resilience to Climate Change (ARCC) project did a survey of 30 NGOs based in Bamako to learn which practices they promoted. It also conducted focus groups with farmers in 12 villages across four Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET) zones to learn which practices they adopted.
It found that many NGOs focus their activities on the southern regions of the country, most likely because the north is marked by sparse populations and political instability and there are logistical challenges to working there.
The most important factors to consider when choosing practices to promote appear to be the local context in which the NGOs work, and the livelihoods of the populations they target. Most promote at least one practice that addresses soil fertility, moisture retention, supplemental water or agroforestry.
The brief notes that farmers tend to avoid practices that require higher levels of labor and technical knowledge.
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