Assessment of Contour Bunding Technology for Improved Land and Water Management in Mali | Land Portal

Informations sur la ressource

Date of publication: 
novembre 2014
Resource Language: 
ISBN / Resource ID: 
mel:20.500.11766/5359

This research was carried out in three agro-climatic regions of Mali (Mopti, Koulikoro and Sikasso) to assess
contour bunding technology (CBT) for improved land and water management. Reference was made to
existing literature and field surveys were conducted following georeferencing and quantification of existing
land and water management technologies. Farmers’ perceptions towards the use of the most commonly
applied technologies were assessed. Results indicate that CBT is widely adopted in farmers’ fields to
improve the management of land and water resources. CBT was first introduced in 1993 by the Institut
d’Economie Rurale (IER) in Mali and Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour
le Développement (CIRAD). Up until 2013 the total area of farmland covered with CBT in the three regions
was1750 ha. There is a lot of variation in CBT distribution across the three regions with the implication that
its adoption increases when the production system is more favourable and there is more rainfall. Farmers
have positive perceptions towards the application of CBT in their farmlands. Large proportions of farmers
(81%) perceived that soil and water were conserved at a very high or high rate with the use of CBT. In the
area of CBT application gullies were reduced at a rate of 73%. Similarly soil fertility was maintained at a rate
of 84% at a very high or high rate. Furthermore, with the availability of existing land and water management
practices in their farmland 82% of the farmers’ responded with success stories mainly to do with better
water availability, improvements in crop yield and soil fertility

Auteurs et éditeurs

Author(s), editor(s), contributor(s): 

Birhanu, Zemadim
Tabo, Ramadjita
Sodoba, Bougouna
Fourtet, Nicolas
Wani, Suhas

Publisher(s): 
International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics logo

The International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) is an international non-profit organization that undertakes scientific research for development.


Our approach is through partnerships and with an Inclusive Market Oriented Development.


Partnerships are critical as ICRISAT takes a catalyst role to help rural communities develop their own solutions and engage

the actors needed to bring the vision to reality.

Fournisseur de données

Concentration géographique

Catégories apparentées

Partagez cette page