Capacity building of stakeholders in Niger Office on seed production of drought tolerant rice varieties and system of rice intensification in Mali

Sidibe, M., Keita, B. and Dossou-Yovo, E.R. 2025. Capacity Building of Stakeholders in Niger Office on Seed Production of Drought Tolerant Rice Varieties and System of Rice Intensification in Mali. AICCRA Report. Accelerating Impacts of CGIAR Climate Research for Africa (AICCRA).

This report presents the outcomes of capacity building activities implemented under the AICCRA project in the Niger Office, the largest irrigation scheme in Mali contributing 40% of national rice production. The training program focused on building the technical capacity of extension agents, local NGOs, women-led organizations, and farmer leaders in the production of drought-tolerant rice seeds and the application of the System of Rice Intensification (SRI) as a climate-smart agricultural innovation. A total of 1,080 participants (899 men and 181 women) were trained through a combination of farmer field schools, indoor workshops, mutual learning groups, and mass communication campaigns. These sessions aimed to enhance seed quality assurance, improve water-use efficiency, strengthen climate resilience, and promote gender-inclusive leadership in rice value chains. The trainings contributed to significant progress towards adoption targets, with over 65,196 stakeholders sensitized and 22,280 farmers trained in climate-resilient practices, exceeding dissemination targets. The outcomes demonstrate a strong foundation for large-scale scaling of drought-tolerant rice technologies and intensive rice cultivation systems to improve productivity and resilience in Mali’s rice sector.