LOCATION SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATIONS ON FERTILIZATION AND CROPPING CALENDERS WITH RICEADVICE IN MALI Activity Report Kokou Ahouanton, Pierre Kone, Jonathan Guindo, Salif Doumbia, Elliott Ronald Dossou-Yovo December 2024 To cite this report Ahouanton, K., Kone, P., Guindo, J., Doumbia, S., Dossou-Yovo, E.R., 2024. Location specific recommendations on fertilization and cropping calendar with RiceAdvice in Mali. Activity report. AICCRA project. Copyright The copyrights over this info note is jointly owned by Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical - CIAT and Africa Rice center. It is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivatives 4.0 International License (CC BY- ND 4.0). For more information about this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses Acknowledgement Accelerating Impacts of CGIAR Climate Research for Africa (AICCRA) is a project that helps deliver a climate-smart African future driven by science and innovation in agriculture. It is led by the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT and supported by a grant from the International Development Association (IDA) of the World Bank. Explore our work at aiccra.cgiar.org About AICCRA Reports Titles in this series aim to disseminate interim research on the scaling of climate services and climate-smart agriculture in Africa, in order to stimulate feedback from the scientific community. Photos Cover photo: © AfricaRice in Mali / P. Kone Disclaimer This working paper has not been peer reviewed. Any opinions stated herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the policies or opinions of AICCRA, donor, or partners. Partners 1 Abstract A total of 46,695 recommendations were provided to farmers in Sikasso and Segou regions using RiceAdvice, including 15,877 for females (34%), covering 38,990 ha of rice fields. The recommended fertilizer application rates were 114 kg/ha N, 23 kg/ha P, and 23 kg/ha K for Segou, and 91 kg/ha N, 21 kg/ha P, and 21 kg/ha K for Sikasso, considering crop growth stages and weather conditions. The use of RiceAdvice led to a 45% increase in average rice yield, from 3.1 t/ha under farmers’ practices to 4.5 t/ha. The partial productivity of nitrogen increased to 50 kg of grain per kg of N with RiceAdvice, compared to 48 kg with farmers' practices. Farmers applied less fertilizer than recommended, with average quantities of 65 kg/ha N, 32 kg/ha P, and 12 kg/ha K, but reported better fertilizer efficiency, highlighting RiceAdvice's positive impact on yield and resource use. Keywords: location specific, fertilizer, rice, yield, efficiency About the authors Kokou Ahouanton is a research assistant in Agronomy at AfricaRice Pierre Kone is a research technician in climate smart agriculture at AfricaRice Jonathan Guindo is a research technician in integrated rice-fish at AfricaRice Salif Doumbia is the head of the rainfed rice program at the Institute of Rural Economy in Mali Elliott Dossou-Yovo works for AfricaRice as climate change scientist. He is the lead of the AICCRA project in Mali. Contents Abstract ..................................................................................................... 1 About the authors ....................................................................................... 1 Contents .................................................................................................... 2 1. Introduction ......................................................................................... 1 2. Problem statement ................................... Error! Bookmark not defined. 3. Objectives ............................................... Error! Bookmark not defined. 4. Scaling strategy ....................................... Error! Bookmark not defined. 5. Results and progress ................................. Error! Bookmark not defined. 6. Partnership impact .................................... Error! Bookmark not defined. 7. Barriers and challenges ............................. Error! Bookmark not defined. 8. Conclusions and recommendations ......................................................... 4 ACTIVITY REPORT Accelerating Impacts of CGIAR Climate Research for Africa (AICCRA) 1 1. Introduction Rice production in Mali plays a crucial role in ensuring food security and supporting the livelihoods of millions of farmers, particularly in the country’s lowland regions. However, rice farmers face several challenges, including soil nutrient depletion, erratic rainfall patterns, and suboptimal fertilizer application, all of which hinder productivity. Additionally, the lack of precise, localized information on cropping practices and fertilizer use makes it difficult for farmers to optimize yields and efficiently manage resources. In response to these challenges, digital tools have become increasingly valuable in precision agriculture, providing farmers with the information needed to make data- driven decisions. By integrating climate, soil, and agronomic data, these tools offer tailored recommendations that improve farming practices, enhance productivity, and promote sustainable land management. RiceAdvice, an innovative decision-support tool developed by AfricaRice, is designed to provide farmers with location-specific recommendations on fertilization and cropping calendars. By utilizing real-time data, including soil conditions, weather patterns, and crop management practices, RiceAdvice enables farmers to optimize their rice production while minimizing input costs and environmental impact. This report explores how RiceAdvice has been utilized in Mali to generate location-specific fertilization and cropping calendar recommendations, ultimately helping farmers address regional challenges and improve overall rice productivity. 2. Methodology The methodology involved gathering data from farmers to ensure the recommendations generated by RiceAdvice are tailored to their conditions. The data collection process included the following key components: • Farmers’ input: Surveys and interviews were conducted with local rice farmers across different regions to collect valuable information on their current farming practices, challenges, and specific needs regarding fertilization and cropping calendars. This input helped tailor the recommendations to the actual conditions and practices on the ground. • Field conditions: Field visits were carried out to assess environmental factors such as soil type, moisture levels, and overall field management practices. This included evaluating irrigation practices, pest management, and crop ACTIVITY REPORT Accelerating Impacts of CGIAR Climate Research for Africa (AICCRA) 2 rotation systems to understand how these elements influence fertilization and planting schedules. • Weather and soil data: Seasonal weather data, including rainfall patterns, temperature, and humidity levels, and soil properties, including nutrient content, pH, and organic matter levels were already in the data background of RiceAdvice helped in formulating precise fertilizer recommendations. RiceAdvice, an Android-based decision support tool, was utilized to generate tailored recommendations for fertilization and cropping calendars. The tool provides specific advice on: • The appropriate fertilizer types, application rates, and timing • The optimal planting and harvesting windows • Best practices for crop management, including irrigation and pest control • By feeding the collected data into RiceAdvice and specifying the target yield, the tool generated location-specific recommendations to enhance rice productivity while promoting sustainable farming practices. The study focused on key rice-producing regions in Mali, including the Segou, Sikasso and Koulikoro regions. These regions were selected based on their significant role in the country’s rice production and their varying environmental conditions, which offered a diverse representation of Mali’s agricultural landscapes. The recommendations were provided by 10 technicians including 3 females from the national extension office of the Ministry of Agriculture of Mali. To assess the effectiveness of the recommendations provided by RiceAdvice, the following criteria were used: • Number of farmers who received the recommendations • Proportion of farmers who used the recommendations • Changes in quantity of fertilizer applications • Changes in rice yields, comparing farms that implemented RiceAdvice recommendations with those that did not. • Farmer satisfaction: Feedback from farmers on the ease of use of the RiceAdvice tool and the perceived usefulness of the recommendations in addressing local challenges. ACTIVITY REPORT Accelerating Impacts of CGIAR Climate Research for Africa (AICCRA) 3 3. Results 3.1. Recommended fertilizer types, application rates, and timing per region A total of 46,695 recommendations were provided to farmers in the Sikasso and Segou regions using RiceAdvice, including 15,877 for females (34%). These recommendations were applied across 38,990ha of rice fields. The recommended fertilizer types included nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) in the following application rates: • Segou: 114 kg/ha N, 23 kg/ha P, 23 kg/ha K • Sikasso: 91 kg/ha N, 21 kg/ha P, 21 kg/ha K In the two regions, the timing of fertilizer application was aligned with the crop growth stages to ensure optimal nutrient uptake. The recommendations also considered local weather conditions, including rainfall forecasts, to optimize fertilizer use and minimize nutrient loss. 3.2. Impact of tailored fertilization on rice yield The use of RiceAdvice resulted in a significant increase in rice yield compared to farmers’ usual practices. The average rice yield under farmers' current practices was 3.1 t/ha, whereas the yield using RiceAdvice recommendations increased to 4.5 t/ha. This represents an average yield improvement of approximately 45%, highlighting the impact of tailored fertilization recommendations on productivity. The partial productivity of nitrogen was 50 kg of grain per kg of N with RiceAdvice, compared to 48 kg of grain per kg of N using farmers' practices. Meanwhile, the partial productivity of phosphorus and potassium was 216 kg of grain per kg of P or K for RiceAdvice, versus 97 and 254 kg of grain per kg of P or K, respectively, with farmers' practices. 3.3. Farmers' feedback on fertilizer use efficiency Farmers provided positive feedback regarding the efficiency of fertilizer use when following RiceAdvice recommendations. On average, farmers applied less fertilizer than recommended, particularly in the case of nitrogen and potassium. The average quantities of N, P, and K used by farmers were 65, 32, and 12 kg/ha, respectively, compared to the recommended levels of 91, 21, and 21 kg/ha. ACTIVITY REPORT Accelerating Impacts of CGIAR Climate Research for Africa (AICCRA) 4 While farmers applied less fertilizer than advised, they opted to shift to RiceAdvice recommendations. Farmers reported that the tool allowed them to apply fertilizers more precisely, reducing waste and improving cost-effectiveness. The feedback also emphasized the importance of adjusting recommendations based on local knowledge and resource availability, particularly for smallholder farmers. Overall, the results demonstrate that RiceAdvice's tailored fertilization and cropping calendar recommendations contributed to improved rice yields and more efficient fertilizer use, supporting enhanced productivity and sustainability in Mali's rice production systems. 4. Conclusions The use of RiceAdvice significantly improved rice yields and fertilizer use efficiency in Mali, demonstrating its effectiveness as a decision-support tool for precision agriculture. By providing location-specific recommendations, RiceAdvice helped farmers optimize fertilizer application, reduce waste, and enhance productivity. Despite some farmers using lower fertilizer amounts than recommended, feedback highlighted the tool's value in improving resource management and cost- effectiveness. The study underscores the potential of digital tools to support sustainable agricultural practices, offering scalable solutions to enhance rice production and ensure food security in Mali’s lowland regions.