Dr. Samba Bocary Tounkara, CEO of Mali's Office du Niger, conducted a surprise visit to the M'Béwani production zone on September 19, 2026. The visit aimed to assess the realities on the ground, interact with producers, and evaluate the progress of the 2026 Annual Maintenance Program. This unannounced visit followed reports of irrigation difficulties in the area.
During the visit, Dr. Tounkara inspected several key facilities, including the M'Béwani base camp, a rice plot under harvest, and the Séribabougou water intake. The Séribabougou water intake supplies the GDCM and Flabougou plots. He also observed the dredging of the Cost-Ongoïba canal and inquired about the closure works at Markala.
The CEO's interactions with local producers revealed that they generally considered the water supply and irrigation network maintenance to be satisfactory. However, they highlighted several challenges, including delays in maintenance work, late fertilizer supplies, and attacks of pyriculariose, a disease causing significant crop losses.
Based on the findings from his visit, Dr. Tounkara recommended several measures to address the challenges faced by producers. These recommendations included the rehabilitation of critical areas, improved monitoring of maintenance contracts, anticipation of fertilizer supplies, and enhanced phytosanitary measures to combat diseases.
The Office du Niger's management aims to strengthen on-site monitoring and transparency in response to the challenges encountered by production actors. The surprise visit was part of a broader effort to improve performance on the ground through enhanced control and oversight.
The visit also underscored the importance of proximity monitoring and the need for prompt responses to the difficulties faced by producers. By taking a proactive approach, the Office du Niger seeks to mitigate the impact of challenges such as irrigation difficulties and crop diseases.
Ultimately, the goal of the Office du Niger's management, led by Dr. Samba Bocary Tounkara, is to ensure the optimal management of the irrigation system and support producers in overcoming the challenges they face. The CEO's visit to M'Béwani reflects the organization's commitment to transparency, accountability, and performance improvement.
Key points
- The CEO of Office du Niger, Dr. Samba Bocary Tounkara, made a surprise visit to M'Béwani to assess irrigation challenges and interact with producers.
- Producers reported satisfactory water supply and maintenance but highlighted delays in maintenance work, late fertilizer supplies, and crop diseases.
- The visit led to recommendations for rehabilitation of critical areas, better contract monitoring, anticipation of fertilizer supplies, and enhanced phytosanitary measures.
