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

Name of project which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Technology (if relevant)

Manual of Good Practices in Small Scale Irrigation in the Sahel (GIZ )

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

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

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

Agricultural Competitiveness and Diversification Programme (PCDA) - Mali

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 Technology

Definition of the Technology:

The aim of this practice is to improve the preservation and storage of potato tubers in rural areas.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

Ventilated storehouses are designed to store cash-crops and seed potatoes in conditions suitable for minimising damage and to hold back stock until market prices rise. The facilities are mudbrick, thatched outbuildings with external dimensions of 7.5 metres long by 5.9 metres wide. The stock quantity is 5,000 to 10,000 kilograms. The preservation period is six months, compared to three months using a traditional system. The loss rate is less than 20%.

Establishment / maintenance activities and inputs: No plant-health treatments are used. Every two weeks, checking for damaged tubers is required (to control rot).
Roles of the actors involved: The PCDA (Agricultural Competitiveness and Diversification Programme) funds, monitors and provides support. The promoter owns the site and provides a 25% personal contribution. The research and oversight bodies (ROBs) provide advisory support, monitor activities on the ground and deliver reports.

Natural / human environment: Given its economic benefits, most promoters have adopted this storage system. Others have built storehouses of this kind without any subsidies from the PCDA.

2.3 Photos of the Technology

2.5 Country/ region/ locations where the Technology has been applied and which are covered by this assessment

2.6 Date of implementation

If precise year is not known, indicate approximate date:

• less than 10 years ago (recently)

2.7 Introduction of the Technology

Specify how the Technology was introduced:

• through projects/ external interventions

Comments (type of project, etc.):

Since 2007, through Agricultural Competitiveness and Diversification Programme (PCDA)

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

• create beneficial economic impact
• create beneficial social impact

3.2 Current land use type(s) where the Technology is applied

Comments:

Major land use problems (compiler’s opinion): lack of storage possibility for highly perishable produce

Mixed: (eg agro-pastoralism, silvo-pastoralism): Yes

3.3 Further information about land use

Water supply for the land on which the Technology is applied:

• mixed rainfed-irrigated

Number of growing seasons per year:

• 1

Specify:

Longest growing period in days: 120 Longest growing period from month to month: August-November

Livestock density (if relevant):

1-10 LU /km2

3.4 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• post-harvest measures

3.5 Spread of the Technology

Comments:

Zignasso 1 site, Sikasso Circle
Zignasso 2 site, Sikasso Circle
Bamadougou site, Sikasso Circle

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

Comments:

Main measures: management measures

Specification of other management measures: Ventilated storehouse

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

3.8 Prevention, reduction, or restoration of land degradation

Specify the goal of the Technology with regard to land degradation:

• prevent land degradation

4.2 Technical specifications/ explanations of technical drawing

Technical knowledge required for field staff / advisors: high

Technical knowledge required for land users: low

Main technical functions: promotion of vegetation species and varieties (quality, eg palatable fodder), improved conditions to store highly perishable produce

Other type of management: ventilated storehouses

4.3 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

other/ national currency (specify):

CFA Franc

Indicate exchange rate from USD to local currency (if relevant): 1 USD =:

517.0

4.4 Establishment activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing
1.	Construction of ventilated storehouse. The facilities are mudbrick, thatched outbuildings with external dimensions of 7.5 metres long by 5.9 metres wide	Management

4.6 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing/ frequency
1.	Every two weeks, checking for damaged tubers is required (to control rot).	Management

4.8 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

Investment costs: 584,000 CFA francs (1,136 Dollar): crates – 400,000 CFA francs, storehouses – 184,000 CFA francs.
Preservation costs: each kilogram of stored potato will incur an extra cost of 53 CFA francs (0.10 Dollar).
Break-even point in terms of revenue: once turnover moves beyond 105,510 CFA francs, the conservation activities begin to become profitable.
Break-even point in terms of quantity: a minimum stock of 313 kilograms must be stored for the activity to be profitable.

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

5.3 Soils

If available, attach full soil description or specify the available information, e.g. soil type, soil PH/ acidity, Cation Exchange Capacity, nitrogen, salinity etc.

Soil fertility: Medium
Soil drainage/infiltration: Medium and poor
Soil water storage capacity: Medium

5.4 Water availability and quality

Comments and further specifications on water quality and quantity:

Availability of surface water: Also poor/ none

5.5 Biodiversity

Comments and further specifications on biodiversity:

Species diversity: medium, low

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

Indicate other relevant characteristics of the land users:

Population density: < 10 persons/km2

Annual population growth: 2% - 3%

10% of the land users are rich.
50% of the land users are average wealthy.
30% of the land users are poor.
10% of the land users are poor.

5.7 Average area of land owned or leased by land users applying the Technology

5.8 Land ownership, land use rights, and water use rights

Comments:

The irrigated land is allocated by the chief

5.9 Access to services and infrastructure

6.1 On-site impacts the Technology has shown

Socio-economic impacts

Income and costs

Other socio-economic impacts

Socio-cultural impacts

6.3 Exposure and sensitivity of the Technology to gradual climate change and climate-related extremes/ disasters (as perceived by land users)

Gradual climate change

Gradual climate change

	Season	Type of climatic change/ extreme	How does the Technology cope with it?
annual temperature		increase	well

Climate-related extremes (disasters)

Meteorological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
local rainstorm	well
local windstorm	well

Climatological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
drought	well

Hydrological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
general (river) flood	well

Other climate-related consequences

Other climate-related consequences

	How does the Technology cope with it?
reduced growing period	well

6.4 Cost-benefit analysis

How do the benefits compare with the establishment costs (from land users’ perspective)?

How do the benefits compare with the maintenance/ recurrent costs (from land users' perspective)?

6.5 Adoption of the Technology

Comments:

There is a moderate trend towards spontaneous adoption of the Technology

Comments on adoption trend: Given its economic benefits, most promoters have adopted this storage system. Others have built storehouses of this kind without any subsidies from the PCDA.

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
More food available through improved storage: preservation period: six months, compared to three months using a traditional system. Loss rate: less than 20%.
Capacity to cover outgoings without selling the potato stocks in storage
high economic benefits

6.8 Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks of the Technology and ways of overcoming them

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
There are difficulties if there is a lack of available straw for thatching, if growing techniques are not being mastered, and if there is a lack of thermometers or hygrometers

7.2 References to available publications

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Agricultural Competitiveness and Diversification Programme (PCDA)/Rural Economy Institute (IER): Référentiel technico-économique conservation de la pomme de terre en cases aérées [Technical and economic reference document on preserving potatoes in ventilated storehouses]