Rice-fish scoping report for AICCRA Mali

Abstract

Rice and fish are important foods and products in Mali that face challenges from the effects of climate change. To identify gaps and needs, as well as opportunities for improving climate resilience and livelihoods through integrated rice-fish production, we conducted a scoping study that consisted of a literature review and interviews with key informants. This study was done in the focal regions of Segou, Mopti and Koulikoro as part of the Accelerating the Impact of CGIAR Climate Research for Africa project in Mali (AICCRA Mali). The report provides context that includes the following points: (i) the agroecosystems of these focal regions and the water and climate challenges faced, (ii) the state of production for rice and fish, (iii) the hazards and vulnerability of farmers and food systems, (iv) policy and strategies for supporting or improving integrated production systems and (v) potential approaches for integrated production of fish and rice in Mali. The report also provides responses from key informants on production practices, farmer preferences, opportunities and challenges. This data provides further insight into suitable approaches for integrating fish and rice, gender- and youth-specific opportunities and constraints, and the gaps and needs in terms of infrastructure, finance, management, value chains and markets. Key findings include the extensive nature of fish production that is integrated with rice production in the study areas. Capture fisheries are still active in rice producing areas, as is production (both managed and “wild”) of aquatic plants and other aquatic animals. Concurrent rice-fish culture is also practiced, primarily with tilapia or catfish (Clarias sp.) as the fishstock. Key informants among women, men and youths reported relatively similar participation in production tasks for rice and fish and similar needs for financial capital and training, though preferences differed on financial investment in production. All the respondents reported the same primary constraints for integrated rice-fish production: (i) land ownership, (ii) water supply, (iii) access, price and quality of fish feed and (iv) the price and quality of fingerlings. Preferences among respondents on management arrangements for integrated rice-fish production were roughly equally divided between individual farm-level management and cooperative management, with youths preferring the latter. Norms for women’s participation and the timing of fish production practices require gender-sensitive approaches. The report concludes with recommendations for potential training in the AICCRA Mali project to support gender-sensitive and climate-resilient approaches to rice-fish production.