BergerWorld: 4th Quarter 2005

Mali

Because of its proximity to the Sahara Desert, Mali relies heavily on irrigation from the Niger River to sustain crops. Improved irrigation in this desert nation is a critical step to increasing farm yields and promoting sustainable development. To assist in these goals, the Berger Group recently worked on two programs to upgrade irrigation systems, raise rural incomes and preserve ecological diversity.

Irrigation is an essential part of life in the Ansongo district of Mali, where agriculture and herding is the primary occupation of the district's 400,000 people. Under the AfDB-funded Ansongo District Rural Development Project, the Berger Group worked with CIRA-Sarl to build irrigated perimeters and pumping stations throughout the region, educate nomadic herders and farmers in modern animal husbandry and crop development, improve living standards and preserve the region's biodiversity.

To meet these ambitious goals, the Team began by constructing more efficient irrigation networks capable of increasing crop yields. Given the importance of herding to the Malian economy, Berger also worked with herders to develop irrigation for pasture lands. To ensure sustainability and minimize water disputes, the Team strengthened rural farmer associations and assisted in educating stakeholders in the benefits of cooperation between farmers and herders. Berger also provided villages with training in improved crop cultivation and introduced modern technologies to increase yields.

The project also focused on improving economic conditions within Mali. Berger team members constructed educational facilities and community centers and improved sanitary facilities in the district. The introduction of improved sanitary facilities will greatly increase the availability of potable water, reduce water-borne diseases and improve the quality of water used to irrigate fields and water animals.

In Mali, environmental and agricultural issues are almost inseparable. Because the improper expansion of farm fields within the fragile Sahel area can lead to desertification and poor crop yields, it is essential to address these concerns quickly. Berger experts worked with Ansongo farmers to conserve biodiversity and encourage the planting of trees and bushes to protect crops against winds and drifting soil and reduce the effects of soil depletion on the environment.

Berger also worked with CIRA-Sarl in a second AfDB-funded project to reduce poverty in Mali's Maninkoura region and strengthen food security by improving local irrigation systems. The Team surveyed existing irrigation systems and identified current and future water needs of the region. Using the data collected in these field studies, Berger designed upgrades to 1094 hectares of irrigated perimeters, including 121 kilometers of irrigation canals, 43 kilometers of drainage ditches, 186 kilometers of inner tracks and 21 kilometers of protective dikes. Berger also designed improvements for nine pumping stations and upgraded power lines and energy supplies to power the stations. These improvements will assist rural farmers in increasing agricultural production by providing a steady and reliable water source while reducing water loss.

The nation of Niger faces many of the same challenges as Mali, including an arid climate, limited water supplies and poor soil quality. To improve irrigation in the Tahoua area, the Berger Group was selected to design dams and improve irrigation. Drawing on feasibility studies prepared by Berger in the 1990s, a team of experts drafted designs for five earth dams in the Tahoua region. These dams will provide irrigation systems with a reliable water source, increase crop yields and provide additional water for livestock. To develop additional food supplies, the Berger Group also worked with local farmers to implement small-scale fish farming in the reservoirs created by the dam.