Tropicultura (Jan 2014)
La rizipisciculture au Mali: Pratiques et perspectives de l'innovation piscicole
Abstract
Rice-Fish Culture in Mali: Practices and Prospects of Piscicultural Innovation. Mali is a country of fishing tradition in its rivers streams. Its fish production is the highest in West Africa, but it is dependent on the flood regime of Niger River. Fish farming appears to be a good alternative for increasing the amount of fish available during drought periods. A new fish production activity has progressively taken place in rural areas, i.e. "rizipisciculture" (rice-fish farming), since 2006. This emergent activity constitutes another challenge for agricultural research in Mali, actually raising up more questions than solutions. Individual surveys were conducted in the area of 'Office du Périmètre Irrigué de Baguinéda (OPIB)', a rice extension service. Fifteen out of 23 farmers, so 65% of those practicing rizipisciculture, were surveyed and monitored in 2011. This investigation showed some disparities in the practices and the results of rice-fish production. Fish yield in the rice compartments varies between 408 and 438 kg.ha-1. This activity is facing environmental, socio-cultural, technic, institutional and financial constraints. In Mali, there is an important potential for irrigated rice production, which is favorable for the development of rice-fish farming. The sustainability of this new technology must however still be proved, and its socio-economic profitability demonstrated.
