How composting improves livelihoods of farmers in Mali

The global fertilizer crisis resulting from the ongoing conflict in Ukraine has had detrimental effects on economic and agricultural sectors around the world. 

In Mali, more than two-thirds of the population live in rural areas—of which, close to a million households are involved in agricultural activities. Here, food, fertilizer, and fuel prices have risen due to shortages caused by the conflict, putting a significant strain on local livelihoods. 

To address this and provide farmers with sustainable solutions that combat rising costs,  USAID’s Feed the Future Mali Sugu Yiriwa project, implemented by Cultivating New Frontiers in Agriculture, is helping producers in the southern zone reap the financial and practical benefits of composting. 

A recent study on the use of compost for sustainable agricultural production in southern Mali shows that compost enhances crop quality, productivity, and resistance to diseases and pests, while improving soil fertility and water retention, thus promoting healthy crop growth. It also highlights the benefits of compost in reducing farmers’ dependence on costly imported chemical fertilizers. 

In 2022, in response to the crisis, USAID distributed nutritional food kits, seeds, and fertilizer in Mali as an emergency intervention. For farmers like Mamadou Ballo, USAID provided training and access to tools to boost production and marketing related to composting. 

After being trained and equipped on compost production, I immediately put the newly acquired skills into practice by using our pond, which was originally intended for aquaculture,” Mamadou said. “It wasn't an easy task, but we did it.”  

Before USAID provided training, Mamadou, a farmer from Koutiala, was one of only a few people composting in rural Mali due to difficulties with collecting and transporting organic waste, and a lack of resources like water, labor, equipment, and training. 

With USAID’s support, this has changed for the better—1,322 farmers have been trained on composting best practices in the regions of Bougouni, Koutiala, and Sikasso. For Mamadou, who already had some experience with composting, the session offered him a way to compost more efficiently, generating higher profits. 

Before, we used to cut grass and pile it up in the open air, hoping that it would turn into compost due to the rainfall and heat, but this only happened once a year,” Mamadou said. “Now I can produce compost two or three times a year. I have built pits where I combine crop residues with animal waste and water them to produce organic manure.”

As a result, Mamadou produced three trailers-full of organic manure from a single pit this agricultural season, which he used to fertilize the crops growing on his 2-hectare (5-acre) farm. 

After five months of producing compost, our organic manure was ready for use,” Mamadou said. “Due to the quantity and quality of the compost produced this year, we combined it with  only half a bag of urea for 2 hectares, saving us $77.”

He also emphasized the higher quality of the maize grown with the compost, promising an excellent harvest season. 

In previous years, I harvested about 48 to 49 100-kilogram bags from the 2 hectares,” Mamadou said. “This year, I am confident that the yield will be significantly higher, with over 80 100-kilogram bags, or an increase of nearly 60%.”

For farmers like Mamadou, the benefits of composting are undeniable as he sees his crops’ productivity and quality increase. This is without even acknowledging the financial advantages. Mamadou’s new methods have earned the interest of neighboring farmers who view it as an opportunity to use fertilizers efficiently and improve their crop quality. 

With the success he has found, Mamadou hopes to develop his composting activities into a source of income for his family.  

I'm planning to expand to other areas and increase my compost production capacity,” he said. “This expansion will enable me to fulfill our fertilizer needs and create a surplus I can sell to other interested farmers.”

Mamadou's success serves as a testament to the impact of emergency interventions provided by programs like Sugu Yiriwa to help Malian farmers improve their livelihoods while building resilience against economic and ecological shocks and stressors. Similarly, it reinforces USAID’s commitment to support sustainable agriculture systems that ensure food security and alleviate poverty. 

Link to the article on Medium Blog: https://medium.com/usaid-2030/an-ecological-solution-to-economic-and-environmental-challenges-8d640d4d1adc