Mali, Smallholder Initiative in West Africa (SIWA)

Smallholder Initiative in West Africa (SIWA), Mali-Senegal, 2002-2005

Donors: Monsanto Fund

Partners: Winrock, IER’s Maize program, OHVH, CMDT, La Cigogne SA, Kilabo, AMATEVI, SODAGRI

Goal

• Improve maize production for smallholder farmers in Mali and Senegal
• Identify and test hybrid maize varieties adapted to agro-ecological conditions
• Increase the yield and quality of hybrid maize compared to local varieties
• Strengthen food security and farmers' income.

What We Do

• Hybrid maize testing and selection (17 varieties tested, 3 selected)
• On-farm testing and demonstration trials for smallholder farmers
• Organizing smallholder farmers into cooperatives to facilitate hybrid seed procurement
• Introduction of minimum tillage and weed control techniques.

Accomplishments

Mali

• Adoption of hybrid maize varieties: 51% of farmers preferred SNK2911, 24% CRN3549, 13% SNK2778
• Increase in hybrid seed demand: from 600 kg in 2005 to 20 tons in 2007-08
• Higher productivity: hybrid maize yielded an average of 7 t/ha compared to 3.5 t/ha for local varieties
• Increased income: +$500 per hectare due to hybrid varieties
• Economic benefits minimum tillage: approximately $200 per hectare in project zones

Senegal

• Successful hybrid maize trials during the dry and rainy seasons in the Anambe Basin
• Dry season yields of up to 8.3 t/ha with SNK 2472 and CRN 3760, significantly outperforming local composite varieties (4.1 t/ha)
• Hybrid maize performed better in the dry season due to reduced pest incidence and improved growth conditions.