Cover_Rebuilding West Africas Food Potential

178 Rebuilding West Africa’s food potential

Figure 19. Observed and adjusted NRP to rice wholesalers and producers in Mali, 2005-2010

Source: Authors

Furthermore, the amounts credited to the Rice Initiative – for example 25 398 billion FCFA for the year

2009/10 (compared with 117 billion FCFA spent in total in Mali for the rural and agriculture sector) –

lead one to question the program’s sustainability, especially when it comes to inputs (fertilizer, seeds)

and loans for equipment.

The Malian government has made considerable efforts to support rice production through public

expenditures, with an encouraging increase in production volume. However, it appears that consumer

oriented policies adopted from 2008 onwards have penalized producers and wholesalers who did not

get the prices they should have received. More transparency may be needed in order to allow different

actors along the value chain to adjust to the government’s priorities. In addition, there are risks that the

heavy investment in input subsidies will not result in long term benefits for rice production.

5.3 The case of livestock: lack of support despite a strong potential in the value chain

Livestock, and meat in particular, are included in the explicit objectives of the SDDR. However, other

decisions for the sector have also been taken, such as the adoption of the new national policy on live

stock in 2004. Moreover, the creation of the Direction Nationale des Productions et Industries Animales

(DNPIA) to replace the Office Malien du Bétail et de la Viande (OMBEVI) reflects the government’s

desire to boost the livestock sector and to build capacity, while diversifying the approach to livestock

production. In addition to these institutional approaches, breeding has benefited from an array of

projects and programs focusing particularly on animal health, breeding, marketing and slaughter, such

as Programme d’Appui au Développement de l’Elevage dans le Sahel Occidental (PADESO).

2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

Observed nominal rate of protecon at point of compeon

Adjusted nominal rate of protecon at point of compeon

Observed nominal rate of protecon at farm gate

Adjusted nominal rate of protecon at farm gate

-50 %

-40 %

-30%

-20 %

-10 %

0 %

10 %