Mali, Africa Risings large-scale Diffusion of Technologies for Sorghum and Millet Systems (ARDT-SMS)

Africa Risings large-scale Diffusion of Technologies for Sorghum and Millet Systems (ARDT-SMS), 2014 - 2019

Donors:

USAID via ICRISAT

Goal

In the selected Feed the Future (FTF) communities of the Sikasso Region of Mali, EUCORD is co-implementing activities to enhance both male and female farmers’ knowledge of efficient sorghum and millet production technologies, facilitate access to sorghum and pearl millet production technologies, and thereby strengthen sorghum and millet value chains.

What we do

EUCORD signed a subcontract with ICRISAT for a USAID funded project entitled “Africa Risings large-scale Diffusion of Technologies for Sorghum and Millet Systems” (ARDT/SMS). EUCORD is responsible for project activities in the Sikasso Region and contributes to the overall objective, i.e. to facilitate farmers’ access and knowledge of sorghum and pearl millet production technologies in order to strengthen the related value chains. Alongside crop production practices, this project also facilitates the strengthening of the demand for improved technologies in target areas.

Accomplishments

EUCORD has facilitated the signature of hybrid and OPV seed production contracts between seed cooperatives and seed companies Agriplus and Dounkafa. Additionally, five institutional partners (OPIB, NGO Kilabo, USAID/CVC and the agricultural bureaus of Yanfolila and Bougouni) signed MOUs with EUCORD. The production of hybrid sorghum seed has enabled:

• Increased income for producers in target villages
• Improved food security in the target villages
• Strengthened livelihoods (access to drinking water and quality seeds etc.)
• Improved crop productivity thereby reducing the area sown
• Stronger involvement of women in the production and marketing of hybrid seed

Read also this success story in ICRISAT's Newsletter about one of the participants in the project.