1.2 Contact details of resource persons and institutions involved in the assessment and documentation of the Approach

Name of the institution(s) which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Approach (if relevant)

Direction Nationale de l'Agriculture (DNA) - Mali

Name of the institution(s) which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Approach (if relevant)

Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH (GIZ) - Germany

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

When were the data compiled (in the field)?

01/07/2012

The compiler and key resource person(s) accept the conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT:

Yes

2.1 Short description of the Approach

Ensure the optimum exploitation of flood recession areas around bodies of water in order to improve agricultural production.

2.2 Detailed description of the Approach

Detailed description of the Approach:

The objective of this practice is to ensure the optimum exploitation of flood recession areas around bodies of water in order to improve agricultural production. This involves using water wisely by choosing suitable crops for the strips of adjacent land.
With this method, it is possible to manage the different water levels around reservoirs. Crops are chosen according to the water level: floating rice for areas where water is deeper; erect rice for moderate depths; and maize, vegetables and trees where surface-water levels are low.
Before the site is developed, farming advisors from the National Directorate of Agriculture (DNA) provide training to growers on benefits, constraints, possible land uses and the operating plan for the land. While the scheme is being built, rural engineering agents inform growers about how to maintain the scheme. Once the scheme is built, the rural engineering service provides training to growers and farming advisors on how to operate the scheme. A village committee is set up to manage the scheme. Committee members must be available and prepared to work in the interest of the community. Crop layouts and land allocations are formalised in an operating plan created consensually with growers. Areas around the reservoir are catalogued and the village council – with the support of technical experts (farming and rural engineering) – then allocate the lands in accordance with the three sections established: the deep section, the moderate-level section and the low-water section. Operation: In collaboration with the growers, the farming advisors set the farming calendar (ploughing, sowing, weeding, etc.) for each of the three sections around the reservoir. The calendar must be adhered to by everyone concerned. The advisors carry out regular monitoring of farming activities and propose corrective measures. The scheme management committee monitors the provision of agricultural inputs, compliance with the operating plan, adherence to the agricultural calendar and the condition of the scheme, and it undertakes repairs when required.
Three essential success factors for managing a reservoir have been identified: the organisation of growers around the scheme to ensure all aspects (infrastructure, lands, water) are well managed; the maintenance of the scheme and reservoir banks (if the banks degrade, the adjacent land may erode or be lost); adherence to the agricultural calendar, which is key for getting the best results from installations.
Village councils participate in the allocation of land to prevent conflicts and ensure compliance with the conditions of the land allocation and the rules in place for the scheme. The management committee ensures the upkeep of the scheme and the supply of agricultural inputs through bulk purchasing. Growers must comply with the agricultural calendar and correctly apply the recommended cropping techniques. Farming advisors train growers, monitor the farming of the site and recommend high-performing and suitable varieties. Rural engineering experts provide training on scheme maintenance, management and monitoring.

2.3 Photos of the Approach

2.5 Country/ region/ locations where the Approach has been applied

2.6 Dates of initiation and termination of the Approach

2.7 Type of Approach

• project/ programme based

2.8 Main aims/ objectives of the Approach

The objective of this practice is to ensure the optimum exploitation of flood recession areas around bodies of water in order to improve agricultural production. This involves using water wisely by choosing suitable crops for the strips of adjacent land.
The SLM Approach addressed the following problems: manage the different water levels around reservoirs

2.9 Conditions enabling or hindering implementation of the Technology/ Technologies applied under the Approach

3.1 Stakeholders involved in the Approach and their roles

3.2 Involvement of local land users/ local communities in the different phases of the Approach

	Involvement of local land users/ local communities	Specify who was involved and describe activities
initiation/ motivation	passive
planning	passive
implementation	interactive
monitoring/ evaluation	passive
Research	passive

3.4 Decision-making on the selection of SLM Technology/ Technologies

Specify who decided on the selection of the Technology/ Technologies to be implemented:

• mainly SLM specialists, following consultation with land users

Explain:

Decisions on the method of implementing the SLM Technology were made by mainly by SLM specialists with consultation of land users

4.1 Capacity building/ training

Was training provided to land users/ other stakeholders?

Yes

Specify who was trained:

• land users

Form of training:

• on-the-job
• public meetings
• courses

Subjects covered:

Before the site is developed, farming advisors from the National Directorate of Agriculture (DNA) provide training to growers on benefits, constraints, possible land uses and the operating plan for the land. While the scheme is being built, rural engineering agents inform growers about how to maintain the scheme. Once the scheme is built, the rural engineering service provides training to growers and farming advisors on how to operate the scheme.

4.2 Advisory service

Do land users have access to an advisory service?

Yes

Specify whether advisory service is provided:

• on land users' fields

Describe/ comments:

Key elements: farming advisors from the National Directorate of Agriculture (DNA) provide training to growers on benefits, constraints, possible land uses and the operating plan for the land, rural engineering agents inform growers about how to maintain the scheme, rural engineering service provides training to growers and farming advisors on how to operate the scheme

4.3 Institution strengthening (organizational development)

Have institutions been established or strengthened through the Approach?

• yes, moderately

Specify the level(s) at which institutions have been strengthened or established:

• local

Specify type of support:

• financial
• capacity building/ training
• equipment

4.4 Monitoring and evaluation

Is monitoring and evaluation part of the Approach?

Yes

Comments:

technical aspects were regular monitored by project staff through observations
economic / production aspects were regular monitored by project staff through observations
management of Approach aspects were regular monitored by project staff through observations
provision of agricultural inputs aspects were regular monitored by project staff through measurements
farming of the site aspects were regular monitored by project staff through observations
There were no changes in the Approach as a result of monitoring and evaluation
There were no changes in the Technology as a result of monitoring and evaluation

4.5 Research

Was research part of the Approach?

Yes

Specify topics:

• sociology
• economics / marketing
• ecology
• technology

5.2 Financial/ material support provided to land users

Did land users receive financial/ material support for implementing the Technology/ Technologies?

Yes

5.3 Subsidies for specific inputs (including labour)

• equipment

• other

If labour by land users was a substantial input, was it:

• voluntary

6.1 Impacts of the Approach

6.2 Main motivation of land users to implement SLM

6.3 Sustainability of Approach activities

Can the land users sustain what has been implemented through the Approach (without external support)?

• yes

6.4 Strengths/ advantages of the Approach

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
Once good land and water management are assured, the first notable effect is the safeguarding of agricultural activity. As a result of this, agricultural production increases in the villages. (How to sustain/ enhance this strength: When growers demonstrate a strong desire to develop the scheme in this way, its sustainability is guaranteed. Farming advisors are on hand to support growers in the sound exploitation of lands adjacent to reservoirs.)
optimum exploitation of flood recession areas around bodies of water in order to improve agricultural production
With this method, it is possible to manage the different water levels around reservoirs. Crops are chosen according to the water level.

7.1 Methods/ sources of information

7.2 References to available publications

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Manual of Good Practices in Small Scale Irrigation in the Sahel. Experiences from Mali. Published by GIZ in 2014.

Available from where? Costs?

http://star-www.giz.de/starweb/giz/pub/servlet.starweb

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Exploitation des petits aménagements hydro-agricoles [Farming small-scale irrigation schemes] (DNA 2011)