Mali+site+visit+21+Oct


 * Exchange visit event for the Africa RISING project and related activities**


 * Dates: 21-25 October, 2013**


 * Places: Bougouni (Flola), Koutiala (Sirakele, Zansoni, Nampossela)**


 * Invitees:**
 * 1) Research institute partners IITA, ICRISAT, AVRDC, ICRAF, ILRI, Wageningen University and Ghanean scientists (Would it be allowed to invite scientists from the Malian NARS?)
 * 2) NGO’s and farmer organization partners (AMASSA, AMEDD, UPTCK, Cooperatives)
 * 3) Other potentially interested stakeholders such as CMDT (cotton company), DanayaNono (milk cooperative), others


 * Goal:**
 * 1) Visit on-going activities and trials in the field and exchange with participating farmers and partner organizations
 * 2) Take stock of the experiences of different stakeholders and evaluate successes and challenges for the project in West Africa
 * 3) Start planning for evaluations, analyses and reporting of 2013
 * 4) Exchange on potential synergy between projects (USAID funded and others) and plan for activities in 2014


 * Tentative program:**


 * Sunday, 20 October, Arrival of participants in Bamako**

Airport transfers to Massaley hotel (or any other good hotel in ACI-2000) Evening, cocktail at Da Guido Italian restaurant

Short briefing of the program at the hotel, departure at 8h
 * Monday, 21 October, Bamako-Bougouni**

Visit trials and activities in Flola (mainly field crop and vegetable crop trials) and meet women from Yorobougoula, who participate in the innovation platform and discuss results of sheep fattening trials with participating women).

Lunch in Bougouni (location?)

Afternoon, Bougouni-Koutiala Stay night in Koutiala

Morning: Visit trials and activities in Sirakele (moringa and baobab food banks fruit tree trials, nutrition field schools, groundnut and cowpea trials). Visit field trials on mechanized microdosing in Sorghum in Zansoni. Visit to the magic stone of Zansoni
 * Tuesday, 22 October, Koutiala**

Lunch in the field in Zansoni.

Afternoon, visit USAID funded activities of AVRDC in Molobala (liase with Albert Rouamba from AVRDC).

Morning, Visit trials in Nampossela (fodder production trials) and surroundings (trials established in fields with and without contour ridges)
 * Wednesday, 23 October, Koutiala**

Lunch in Koutiala Afternoon, presentation of activities in Koutiala and Bougouni per output target (Nutrition, NRM and fodder, field and farm productivity) Discussion on the theme “synergies between sustainable intensification initiatives in WCA”

Morning, short presentations of early results from Dryland Systems and McKnight project (WUR-ICRISAT) Presentation of Africa RISING activities in Ghana (IITA-SARI?)
 * Thursday, 24 October, Koutiala-Bamako**

Discussion and suggestions on writing the new workplan for 2014 for West Africa.

Afternoon, travel Koutiala-Bamako Evening, dinner with visitors and Mali team in restaurant Santoro, Bamako?


 * 25 October, Bamako**

Morning, Meet with mission and discuss alignment with USAID dryland seed wrap up meeting with coordination at Samanko.