Future
challenges for Cinzana Station
In spring 2000, a participatory evaluation was carried
out to assess the work of the agricultural research
station at Cinzana so far. Three evaluators, from Germany,
Burkina Faso, and Switzerland, provided a number of
valuable insights.
To begin with, it was confirmed that the station had
produced a large number of successful technologies (see
research
results). These included the two high-yield and
disease-resistant millet varieties Benkadinion
and Toroniou, which are being cultivated in
the villages in the station's catchment area on approximately
20% of the total area.
The evaluators noted that more small-scale farmers
were not taking advantage of the technical innovations
presumably because they perceived that the tests of
new technologies in the experimental fields were simply
taking place at their farms rather than with their involvement.
In view of the withdrawal of state agricultural extension
services and the absence of private substitutes, however,
the importance of the station for spreading new technologies
is growing. In the evaluators' view, it is also imperative
to devote a larger proportion of the research to the
small-scale farmers' socio-economic living conditions
and the resulting production strategies, in order to
increase the rate at which new techniques are adopted.
This can ensure that the development and research
are better oriented toward farmers' needs and conditions
from the very start.
Another problem involves the sometimes long distances
to the three external stations and "antennae" (test
fields in the farm environment without a station). Due
to the costs involved (vehicles, fuel, time, etc.),
supervision of the test fields is sometimes inadequate.
The evaluators therefore suggested reducing the size
of the intervention area, while at the same time increasing
the number of "antennae," which have so far been successful,
so as to provide more scope for better collaboration
with the farmers.
As a result of the evaluation, the Institut d'Economie
Rurale, the people responsible at the station,
and the Syngenta Foundation agreed to devote the 2001-2005
phase of the program to technology transfer (see discussion).
The initial steps have been taken, with the Commission
Régionale des Utilisateurs (CRU), an association
of farmers' groups who are the real beneficiaries of
agricultural research, having their role as "customers"
being enhanced. The CRU is to be helped to formulate
its research requirements, to enter into dialog with
the researchers, and to help establish goals and topics
for research. At the same time, the researchers are
being prepared for intensified collaboration with the
farmers in developing and testing new technologies.
In addition, the evaluation studied the station's potential
for self-financing. Up to now, the Syngenta Foundation
has met some 70% of the costs, with the Malian government
paying for the remainder, mainly in the form of staff
costs and investments in spare parts such as generator
motors. Although it will not be possible to achieve
complete financial independence in the foreseeable future,
and external support will continue to be necessary in
order to produce presentable results, the station does
have resources at its disposal that might allow it extend
its sources of income. Consideration is being given
to the use of free areas in the station's grounds for
agricultural production in order to produce income and
allow the station to finance at least part of its needs.
However, it must be ensured here that the development
and spread of new technologies is not in any way neglected.
In addition, the station's own production must not represent
any form of market competition for the small-scale farmers
in the area. A marketing study could be carried out
to identify which products are lacking in the market,
or are still capable of producing sales. This is a considerable
challenge for those responsible at the station, since
the range of agricultural production is limited in this
climatic zone. Producing improved seed is another possible
source of income, particularly since the state organization
for seed production is unable to produce enough seed
at acceptable prices.
Finally, the station also faces the problem of a high
fluctuation rate among researchers, who often move on
to international organizations and companies.
This results in a poorly developed "institutional memory,"
particularly since the knowledge produced at the station
is not always adequately exploited. It also means that
existing knowledge is not always fully documented, nor
is it prepared and made accessible in a user-friendly
way. Although there is a library, some data - e.g.,
for researchers joining the station later - are difficult
to find. The station therefore wants to get the best
value from its existing knowledge by applying continuous
documentation, improved data preparation, and an easy-to-use
access system. This will also prevent research topics
from being duplicated.
Both the development of measures to increase the station's
income and the establishment of a knowledge management
system have already been included in the action plans
for the 2001-2005 program cycle.
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