Contribution of an innovation platform to change the management of collective irrigation: a case study from the Office du Niger (Mali)

Abstract

-In the Office du Niger large rice farming irrigation scheme in Mali, water management has been a permanent source of tension between the smallholder tenants and the administration. The transfer of tertiary canal maintenance to the tenant farmers was expected to improve water management but, in practice, that rather led to deterioration. An innovation platform, erected by the CoS-SIS (Convergence of Sciences -Strengthening Innovation Systems) Program, reached a consensual agreement to transfer the maintenance of tertiary canals to the tenant producers, and updated the Contrat Plan expropriation rules for failure to pay water fees as well as many other key dispositions ruling duties and responsibilities for all parties: farmers, Office du Niger agents and the State.

Effects of Self-Selection on Transaction Costs Economics through Sustainable Agro-Ecosystem Irrigation

“…In this regard, the quality of institutions, particularly the ability to take collective farming in irrigation systems (public resources), is a key factor in determining effective economic performance. However, there is little evidence to show how governance mechanisms (such as exposure and control) and external factors (such as market characteristics and rainfall variability) affect the institutional quality of collective farming in irrigation plans (Soumano & Traoré, 2017). In this section, panel data sets re- results for the overall intercept-for both fixed and random effects of 47.83 percentage points as a baseline (reference), the findings showed that the institutional quality (compliance) may vary (increase or decrease) by a standard deviation of 22.42 across the schemes (Table 4).…”

Rice farmer’s poverty and its determinants: evidence from Dogofiri village of Office du Niger zone in Mali

“…The irrigation system is confronted with perpetual drainage problems during harvest, resulting in high production costs as well as loss of production and/ or quality (VANDERSYPEN, 2007). Farmers do not respect the cleaning obligations of the tertiary canal and related water management tasks (SOUMANO & TRAORE, 2017). The malfunctioning of the irrigation system seems to be the factor contributing to soil degradation in Mali that is very closely link to poor drainage conditions and low water efficiency (BAGAYOKO et al, 2007).…”

“…This is still high for farmers living in precarious conditions. The rule in force is that any tenant who wouldn't pay the full fees for the use of water; calculated on the basis of the water requirements for rice per hectare allocated; would lose access to the entire area (SOUMANO & TRAORE, 2017). Farmers often prefer to pay for consumer goods such as two-wheeled gear and waste of their hard-won earnings instead of paying their water fees.…”

“…In the village of Dogofiri, family farm incomes are highly dispersed relative to the mean (Mean: 6.0545; Std.dev: 3.59877; Table 1 ). The income of farmers in ON declined despite the important role of ON in Malian economy and food security (SOUMANO & TRAORE, 2017). If family farms generated low incomes, those with migrants faring better (SOURISSEAU et al, 2012).The low income level led to poverty perceived in different ways in the village and throughout the ON zone.…”