Traore, B and Sinare, B and Kasse, H and Maman, B I and Desta, G and Moyo, M (2025) Capacitating Extension Workers and Trainers for Soil Health: ICRISAT’s Contribution to the Soil Values Project in Mali. Other. ICRISAT, Mali.
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Global Research Program - Resilient Farm and Food Systems
Research Program : West & Central Africa
Additional Information
UNSPECIFIED
Abstract
Under the Soil Values Programme, ICRISAT implemented a set of strategic actions aimed at strengthening soil fertility, soil health, and climate resilience through evidence-based tools and capacity development of extension workers and community trainers. Activities were implemented across three priority watersheds in Mali: Upper Bani (Sikasso), Upper Niger Basin (Ségou), and Middle Bani (San–Tominian). The interventions focused on three complementary pillars:(i) the development of a zonal catalogue of improved crop varieties, forage species, and woody species adapted to local agroecological conditions; (ii) capacity strengthening of public extension agents, NGOs, and community trainers on climate information services and Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA); and (iii) training of farmer-trainers on Sustainable Land Management practices, particularly Soil and Water Conservation / Soil Defense and Restoration (SWC/SLM). In total, 405 participants, including 21% women, drawn from regional agricultural services, NGOs, farmer organizations, and extension systems, were trained. Pre- and post-training evaluations demonstrate a substantial increase in technical knowledge, with average correct responses rising from 49% before training to 91% after training, confirming the effectiveness of the participatory and practice-oriented training approach. The strongest gains were recorded in Climate-Smart Agriculture and climate information use, highlighting improved capacity to translate climate data into actionable agricultural decisions. Despite operational constraints related to logistics and the national context, the activities successfully laid a strong foundation for scaling soil health innovations through local extension systems. Key recommendations include the establishment of demonstration plots, the consolidation of a localized climate information dissemination network, and continued mentoring of trained extension workers and farmer-trainers to maximize field level impact.
| Item Type: | Monograph (Other) |
|---|---|
| Divisions: | Global Research Program - Resilient Farm and Food Systems Research Program : West & Central Africa |
| CRP: | UNSPECIFIED |
| Series Name: | Training Report |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | soil fertility, soil health, climate resilience, crop improvement, climate smart agriculture |
| Subjects: | Others > Crop Improvement Others > Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) Others > Soil Fertility Others > Climate Resilient Technologies Others > Soil Science |
| Depositing User: | Mr Nagaraju T |
| Date Deposited: | 29 Jan 2026 04:11 |
| Last Modified: | 29 Jan 2026 04:11 |
| URI: | http://oar.icrisat.org/id/eprint/13435 |
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