Mali is located in the central Sahel, a region increasingly affected by climate change through rising temperatures, erratic rainfall patterns, and more frequent extreme weather events such as floods and droughts. These climatic shifts have reduced the reliability of rain-fed agriculture, intensified land degradation, and heightened risks for smallholder farmers. Rice producers are particularly vulnerable, as both inland lowland and smallholder irrigated systems depend heavily on stable water availability and effective water management. Without targeted adaptation measures, climate variability continues to threaten rice yields, farmer incomes, and rural livelihoods across the country.
Rice has become an increasingly important staple crop in Mali, yet its production systems remain highly sensitive to climate stressors. Higher temperatures, unpredictable rainfall, and water management constraints have already contributed to yield declines in irrigated and dry-season rice systems, while rain-fed lowland production shows strong variability depending on water control. These challenges highlight the urgent need for climate-smart irrigation and water management strategies that are adapted to local conditions and capable of reducing yield losses while stabilizing production in vulnerable environments.
Climate-Smart Agriculture offers a framework for addressing these challenges by simultaneously increasing productivity, strengthening resilience, and promoting environmental sustainability. Proven approaches include improved water management techniques, climate-resilient rice varieties, integrated soil fertility management, and the use of climate information services to guide farm decisions. Evidence shows that successful adoption depends on participatory design, local adaptation of technologies, access to inputs and credit, and strong integration into extension services and agricultural development plans. Combining digital climate information with low-cost field-based innovations has emerged as a particularly effective strategy for managing uncertainty in semi-arid and lowland systems.
Within this context, the Smart Valleys approach has gained attention as a practical, participatory, and climate-smart solution for inland valley development. By improving water control, reducing erosion, and enhancing soil fertility, Smart Valleys help mitigate both drought and flood risks in rain-fed rice systems. When integrated with climate information services, the approach strengthens farmers’ capacity to make timely and informed decisions, improving productivity and resilience while remaining affordable and adaptable for smallholder communities.
To support wider adoption, the AICCRA Mali cluster, in collaboration with government institutions, local partners, and farmers, organized a capacity-building workshop focused on scaling Smart Valleys for inland water management. The training aimed to strengthen technical skills in valley site selection, participatory development, and post-development management, while also building capacity to use digital climate information services. By addressing technical knowledge gaps, improving data interpretation, and strengthening institutional coordination, the workshop sought to overcome key barriers limiting adoption and scaling.
The workshop brought together researchers, extension agents, farmers, service providers, and development organizations from major rice-producing regions, fostering an inclusive and interactive learning environment. Participatory training methods, demonstrations, group discussions, and hands-on exercises enabled participants to deepen their understanding of inland valley ecology, Smart Valleys design principles, and the importance of aligning water management structures with natural hydrology. Strong emphasis was placed on community ownership, accurate technical execution, and continuous maintenance to ensure long-term functionality and impact.
Participants gained enhanced capacity to identify suitable inland valleys using physical, socio-economic, and land tenure criteria, recognizing that careful site selection is critical to success. The training also strengthened practical knowledge of valley development, including bund construction, drainage design, plot layout, and leveling techniques. Discussions highlighted how improper layout or weak maintenance can undermine benefits, reinforcing the need for sustained mentoring, refresher training, and community commitment beyond initial construction.
Post-development management and integrated soil fertility management were emphasized as essential components of long-term success. Participants learned how regular maintenance of bunds and drainage systems, combined with soil conservation and nutrient management practices, can sustain productivity and reduce erosion over time. The integration of Smart Valleys with improved rice varieties demonstrated promising yield gains and income benefits, reinforcing the approach’s potential to support climate-resilient intensification in lowland rice systems.
Reflections from implementation between 2022 and 2025 underscored that community ownership, low-cost design, and strong partnerships are central to successful scaling. However, constraints such as labor demands, limited technical capacity, maintenance challenges, material shortages, climate risks, and land governance issues continue to affect uptake. Participants emphasized that institutional integration into local development plans, strengthened extension systems, and multi-actor collaboration are necessary to sustain and expand Smart Valleys beyond project timelines.
Overall, the workshop strengthened technical and practical understanding of Smart Valleys as a scalable solution for climate-resilient land and water management in Mali. By combining scientific guidance with field-based learning and participatory exchange, the training generated valuable insights to guide future scaling efforts. The lessons learned provide a strong foundation for expanding Smart Valleys across Mali, supporting improved rice productivity, enhanced resilience, and more secure livelihoods as climate pressures intensify.
