World Vision Helps Farmers in Kolokani Increase Production
The Kolokani Rural Recovery Project of World Vision Mali based in Kolokani was aimed at increasing community resilience in a context of climate change and the extreme poverty of soils that resulted in a decrease of crops production. These phenomena have been characterized by the lack of water due to the very short rainy seasons.
On Thursday March 24, 2106, the Kolokani Rural Recovery Project (KRRP) hosted the official inauguration of the community garden in Zambougou, a rural commune of Massantola.
The ceremony was chaired by the sub–prefect of Kolokani, the mayor of Massantola, the Operations Director of World Vision Mali, technical partners and staff of World Vision Mali.
''The place of World Vision in the development of Mali in general and in the region of Kolokani is enormous."
In his address, the sub-prefect of Kolokani emphasized the role of World Vision in his district. ''The place of World Vision in the development of Mali in general and in the region of Kolokani is enormous. This includes access to clean water, support to education, health, hygiene and sanitation, agriculture, etc.’’
He continued to thank World Vision for all the achievements made in Kolokani through the Kolokani Rural Recovery Project. These included construction of boreholes, instituting market gardens with 6 of them equipped with water conveyance, support for agricultural production, capacity development for increase in income generating activities, support for the promotion of farms, building organizational capacity of communities through the establishment of cooperatives and building capacity in order to reduce disaster risks.
Operations Director of World Vision, Dr. Daouda Coulibaly, reiterated the purpose of the project: increasing the resilience of communities to face climate change by contributing to the creation community assets and the adoption of practices to the growth of production and increase income.
He also praised the successful partnership between World Vision, the commune of Massantola, beneficiary communities and administrative and political authorities that facilitated and partnered with the project staff and different technical services for the results reached.
In closing his speech he said, ''we are sure that these results will contribute to the diversification of means of production, household resilience and well-being of children. We also believe that we can rely on the continued support of technical services and local authorities for the perpetuation of achievements. ''
Impressively, more than 1172 women manage 12.5 hectares built by the project (KRRP).
The Kolokani Rural Recovery Project (KRRP) facilitated trainings in 21 villages in order to draw attention of local farmers to the use of techniques aimed at improving their crop productions. In the village of Zambougou, the staff of KRRP invited local farmers to become familiar with these new crop production techniques. In total, 20,000 people have benefited from these trainings in different communities. Impressively, more than 1172 women manage 12.5 hectares built by the project (KRRP). Farmers also received training on Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration, building compost pits, utilizing improved seeds provided by World Vision, techniques to fight against erosion and poultry and beekeeping.