Southern Mali Research Articles

U-Pb geochronology of grossular-andradite garnet

This study presents a new laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICPMS) based U-Pb geochronometric method for dating grossular-andradite (grandite) garnet. Grandite is a primary skarn mineral, therefore dating its growth directly dates hydrothermal activity. As zircon U-Pb geochronometry provides a high-resolution record of magmatic processes, grandite U-Pb dating has the potential to provide a complementary record for hydrothermal systems. This study characterizes four garnets of variable grossular-andradite content and age as potential reference materials for LA-ICPMS U-Pb geochronology: Willsboro Andradite (~1020Ma, Adirondacks, USA), Red and Yellow Mali Grandite (~200Ma, Southern Mali) and Lake Jaco Grossular (~35Ma, Coahuila, Mexico). Isotope dilution-thermal ionization mass spectrometry (ID-TIMS) U-Pb analyses of Willsboro andradite yield a mean 206Pb/238U date of 1022±16Ma. We use Willsboro Andradite as a primary reference material for LA-ICPMS U-Pb characterization of the two other garnets. The non-radiogenic Pb (Pbc) concentration in grandite is variable between specimens. Willsboro Andradite and Mali Grandites contain almost purely radiogenic Pb (Pb*), however Lake Jaco Grossular has a higher Pbc concentration comparatively and yields discordant U/Pb ratios. For specimens with highly variable Pb*/Pbc, linear regression is employed to derive a lower-intercept age. LA-ICPMS U-Pb dates for Yellow Mali Grandite (202±2Ma; 206Pb/238U weighted mean) and Lake Jaco Grossular (35±2Ma; lower intercept) agree with independent ID-TIMS U-Pb (202.0±1.2Ma) and (U-Th)/He dates (35±5Ma) derived for each specimen. The precision of LA-ICPMS U-Pb dates varies between 1–10% (2σ) for the analyzed garnets. Considering the short estimated lifespans of pluton-related hydrothermal systems (tens of thousands to a few million years), Neogene skarns present the best opportunity to test for and resolve separate episodes of garnet growth at these precision levels. As a performance test for the method, we present new U-Pb andradite data from a Late Miocene skarn system on Serifos Island, Greece. This garnet yields a lower-intercept age of 9.15±0.36Ma, in agreement with biotite Rb-Sr and zircon U-Pb dates from the causative pluton.

Annual Incidence of Lassa Virus Infection in Southern Mali.

AbstractPreviously, we reported a high seroprevalence rate of Lassa virus antibodies in inhabitants of three villages in southern Mali where infected rodents have been demonstrated. Herein, we report a 1-year follow-up study in which we were able to collect a second blood samples from 88.7% of participants of the same cohort. We identified 23 seroconversions for IgG antibodies reactive against Lassa virus, representing an incidence of 6.3% (95% confidence interval = 3.8-8.8%). Seroconversion was frequently seen in preteenage children (12/23, 51.7%) and two household/familial clusters were identified. These results confirm active transmission of Lassa virus is occurring in southern Mali and appropriate diagnostic testing should be established for this etiological agent of severe viral hemorrhagic fever.

Production objectives, trait and breed preferences of farmers keeping N’Dama, Fulani Zebu and crossbred cattle and implications for breeding programs

Many local livestock breeds in developing countries are being replaced by exotic breeds, leading to a loss of genetic resources. In southern Mali, for the past two decades, a trend towards increasing crossbreeding between the trypanotolerant N’Dama cattle and the trypano-susceptible Fulani Zebu cattle has been taking place. A survey with 160 farmers owning a cattle herd was carried out in southern Mali to investigate their production objectives, as well as trait and breed preferences and correlated socio-economic determinants in order to understand farmers’ breeding decisions and to identify comparative advantages of three breed groups (N’Dama, Fulani Zebu and crossbreds) raised in the study area. Data were analyzed using an exploded logit model. The reasons for raising cattle, as well as trait and breed preferences reflected the multiple objectives of the farmers. Draught power and savings were the most important production objectives. Productive traits were ranked highest; farmers reported large body size as the most preferred trait, followed by fertility, draught ability and milk yield. Crossbreds were the favored breed group. Breed preferences were mainly explained by ‘resistance to disease’ for N’Dama cattle and ‘high market price’ for Fulani Zebu and crossbred cattle. Production objectives, trait and breed preferences were mainly influenced by farmer group (local farmers and settled transhumants). Local farmers put comparatively more emphasis on livestock functions linked to crop production such as draught power. They had a higher preference for traction ability as a selection trait and preferred N’Dama over Fulani Zebu cattle. Settled transhumants emphasized milk yield as a selection trait and preferred Fulani Zebu over N’Dama. The results indicate that the trend towards more crossbreeding will continue putting the N’Dama breed under high risk of genetic dilution in southern Mali. The N’Dama cattle remain a valuable breed due to their adaptive traits such as disease and drought tolerance and their good traction ability, fulfilling the diverse objectives of local farmers. Crossbreeding was found to be a promising breeding strategy, which might contribute to the maintenance of the local breed, provided that breeding schemes are thoroughly planned and organized.

An <em>Jεra Cεla</em> (We Share a Husband): Song as Social Comment on Polygamy in Southern Mali

This article focuses on a genre of songs from southern Mali commonly known in Bamanan as ladilikan or “words of advice”, songs that comment in a variety of ways on marriage, particularly polygyny or sinaya, the main Bamanan term for polygyny (referring specifically to the relations between co-wives). Originally sung in a domestic setting and performed mostly (though not exclusively) by Mali’s female vocalists, ladilikan songs now circulate widely through audio and video recordings and have become a vehicle for publically expressing otherwise hidden discourses and ambivalent feelings about polygynous marriage, without critiquing the institution itself.

Mineralization Information Extraction and Gold Deposit Assessment in Yanfolila, Southern Mali, West Africa

The Yanfolila study area is located in the province of gold, south of Mali. Gold is the main mineral resource of Mali. No enough reserve deposit, so there is a need to assess gold deposit. To evaluate the gold deposit, the appropriate method is as follows. The first task is the geological interpretation of study area, which has been one of the major works. The second task is to interpret geochemical soil data. The processing of geochemical data requires the most commonly used methods of spatial analysis. We tried to delineate new target areas for finding undiscovered gold deposits. Finally, the integrated interpretation maps coming from the combination of the different map, referring to the fault information which is verified during fieldwork. Some faults are relatively small scale, widely distributed, and configured for various levels of influence on gold mineralization. In this case, the Banifing fault system is the factor controlling the mineralization process in the region. The findings show two targets delineated in the study area. Solona (target 1), the contours of this zone coincides with igneous rock, which has been encountered as a highly altered material. Target 2 is located in the center of Yanfolila area, and it is less important than target 1.

Evaluation of Immunoglobulin G Responses to Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax in Malian School Children Using Multiplex Bead Assay.

Malaria serology through assaying for IgG against Plasmodium spp. antigens provides evidence into the infection history for an individual. The multiplex bead assay (MBA) allows for detection of IgG against multiple Plasmodium spp., and can be especially useful in many regions where Plasmodium falciparum is of primary clinical focus, but other species are co-endemic. Dried blood spots were collected from 805 Malian children attending 42 elementary schools in the regions of Mopti, Sikasso, Koulikoro, and Bamako capital district, and IgG assayed by MBA. As southern Mali is known to be holoendemic for P. falciparum, merozoite surface protein 1 19-kDa subunit (MSP-142) and apical membrane antigen 1 (AMA-1) antigens were included for serology against this parasite. Responses to these antigens both provided high estimates for lifetime exposure, with 730 (90%) children with IgG antibodies for MSP-142, 737 (91%) for AMA-1, and 773 (96%) positive for either or both. Also included was the antigen Plasmodium vivax MSP-119, against which 140 (17.4%) children were found to have antibodies. Increases in antibody titers with older age were clearly seen with the P. falciparum antigens, but not with the P. vivax antigen, likely indicating more of a sporadic, rather than sustained transmission for this species. The MBA provides effective opportunities to evaluate malaria transmission through serological analysis for multiple Plasmodium species.

Modelling cereal crops to assess future climate risk for family food self-sufficiency in southern Mali

Future climate change will have far reaching consequences for smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa, the majority of whom depend on agriculture for their livelihoods. Here we assessed the farm-level impact of climate change on family food self-sufficiency and evaluated potential adaptation options of crop management. Using three years of experimental data on maize and millet from an area in southern Mali representing the Sudano-Sahelian zone of West Africa we calibrated and tested the Agricultural Production Systems sIMulator (APSIM) model. Changes in future rainfall, maximum and minimum temperature and their simulated effects on maize and millet yield were analysed for climate change predictions of five Global Circulation Models (GCMs) for the 4.5Wm−2 and 8.5Wm−2 radiative forcing scenario (rcp4.5 and rcp8.5).In southern Mali, annual maximum and minimum temperatures will increase by 2.9°C and 3.3°C by the mid-century (2040–2069) as compared with the baseline (1980–2009) under the rcp4.5 and rcp8.5 scenario respectively. Predicted changes in the total seasonal rainfall differed between the GCMs, but on average, seasonal rainfall was predicted not to change. By mid-century maize grain yields were predicted to decrease by 51% and 57% under current farmer’s fertilizer practices in the rcp4.5 and rcp8.5 scenarios respectively. APSIM model predictions indicated that the use of mineral fertilizer at recommended rates cannot fully offset the impact of climate change but can buffer the losses in maize yield up to 46% and 51% of the baseline yield. Millet yield losses were predicted to be less severe under current farmer’s fertilizer practices by mid-century i.e. 7% and 12% in the rcp4.5 and rcp8.5 scenario respectively. Use of mineral fertilizer on millet can offset the predicted yield losses resulting in yield increases under both emission scenarios.Under future climate and current cropping practices, food availability is expected to reduce for all farm types in southern Mali. However, large and medium-sized farms can still achieve food self–sufficiency if early planting and recommended rates of fertilizer are applied. Small farms, which are already food insecure, will experience a further decrease in food self-sufficiency, with adaptive measures of early planting and fertilizer use unable to help them achieve food self-sufficiency. By taking into account the diversity in farm households that is typical for the region, we illustrated that crop management strategies must be tailored to the capacity and resource endowment of local farmers. Our place-based findings can support decision making by extension and development agents and policy makers in the Sudano-Sahelian zone of West Africa.

Connaissance locale des pratiques de la transhumance dans la zone soudano-sahélienne du Mali

Les études sur la transhumance ont souvent ciblé les pasteurs – notamment peuls – des zones sahéliennes. Pour en donner une autre perspective, la pré­sente étude a été centrée sur les pratiques de la transhumance dans la zone sou­dano-sahélienne du Mali en intégrant la perception des agriculteurs et des pas­teurs sédentaires concernés par la transhumance dans les zones d’accueil. Les scénarios envisageables pour le futur des systèmes pastoraux ont aussi été ana­lysés. Les données ont été collectées à travers des groupes de discussion et des enquêtes individuelles. Les résultats ont montré que la transhumance n’était plus le seul fait des populations pastorales peules mais concernait diverses ethnies. Plus de 70 % des agriculteurs, des pasteurs sédentaires et des pasteurs transhu­mants interviewés dans les deux sites de l’étude ont rapporté que les avantages de la transhumance pour les communautés d’accueil en termes de dépôt de fumier dans les champs des cultures décroissaient. Quand bien même la majo­rité des répondants ont rapporté une augmentation des pratiques de la trans­humance au cours des trente dernières années, ils prévoyaient leur diminution dans les années à venir. L’augmentation de la compétition autour des ressources pastorales entre les membres des communautés d’accueil et les pasteurs trans­humants dans le sud du Mali crée une situation d’impasse et des frustrations se manifestant par une méfiance mutuelle.

Fleas and trypanosomes of peridomestic small mammals in sub-Saharan Mali.

BackgroundFleas are obligate blood-feeding ectoparasites and vectors of several bacterial zoonotic pathogens as well as trypanosomes that parasitize rodents and other small mammals. During investigations of tick- and rodent-borne diseases in Mali, West Africa, we included fleas and rodent-borne trypanosomes, both of which are poorly known in this country, but are attracting greater public health interest.MethodsSmall mammals were captured in 20 Malian villages from December 2007 to October 2011. Fleas were collected and identified to species, and thin blood smears were prepared, stained and examined microscopically for trypanosomes.ResultsWe captured 744 small mammals, 68 (9.1 %) of which yielded fleas. Two species of fleas, Xenopsylla cheopis and Xenopsylla nubica, were collected from six species of rodents and one species of shrew. Multimammate rats, Mastomys natalensis, were hosts for 58.5 % of all fleas collected. Xenopsylla cheopis was found in the moister southern savannah while X. nubica was mostly restricted to the drier Sahel. Trypanosomes were found in 3 % of 724 blood smears, although 91 % of parasitemic animals originated from two villages where black rats (Rattus rattus) and M. natalensis were the primary hosts and X. cheopis the dominant flea. The trypanosomes were morphologically consistent with the Trypanosoma (Herpetosoma) lewisi group, flea-borne hemoflagellates that parasitize domestic rats.Conclusions Xenopsylla cheopis and trypanosomes parasitize peridomestic rats that commingle with people in southern Mali. Given the increasing awareness of flea-borne trypanosomes as possible human pathogens, we hope our findings will stimulate future investigators to examine the potential public health significance of flea-borne trypanosomosis in West Africa.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13071-016-1818-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

A novel method for mapping village-scale outdoor resting microhabitats of the primary African malaria vector, Anopheles gambiae.

BackgroundKnowledge of Anopheles resting habitats is needed to advance outdoor malaria vector control. This study presents a technique to map locations of resting habitats using high-resolution satellite imagery (world view 2) and probabilistic Dempster-Shafer (D-S) modelling, focused on a rural village in southern Mali, West Africa where field sampling was conducted to determine outdoor habitat preferences of Anopheles gambiae, the main vector in the study area.MethodsA combination of supervised and manual image classification was used to derive an accurate land-cover map from the satellite image that provided classes (i.e., photosynthetically active vegetation, water bodies, wetlands, and buildings) suitable for habitat assessment. Linear fuzzy functions were applied to the different image classes to scale resting habitat covariates into a common data range (0–1) with fuzzy breakpoints parameterized experimentally through comparison with mosquito outdoor resting data. Fuzzy layers were entered into a Dempster-Shafer (D-S) weight-of-evidence model that produced pixel-based probability of resting habitat locations.ResultsThe D-S model provided a highly detailed suitability map of resting locations. The results indicated a significant difference (p < 0.001) between D-S values at locations positive for An. gambiae and a set of randomly sampled points. Further, a negative binomial regression indicated that although the D-S estimates did not predict abundance (p > 0.05) subsequent analysis suggested that the D-S modelling approach may provide a reasonable estimate locations of low-to-medium An. gambiae density. These results suggest that that D-S modelling performed well in identifying presence points and specifically resting habitats.ConclusionThe use of a D-S modelling framework for predicting the outdoor resting habitat locations provided novel information on this little-known aspect of anopheline ecology. The technique used here may be applied more broadly at different geographic scales using Google Earth, Landsat or other remotely-sensed imagery to assess the malaria vector resting habitats where outdoor control measures can reduce the burden of the disease in Africa and elsewhere.

Waking the Sleeping Giant: Agricultural intensification, extensification or stagnation in Mali's Guinea Savannah

The World Bank argued that West Africa's Guinea Savannah zone forms part of “Africa's Sleeping Giant,” where increases in agricultural production could be an engine of economic growth, through expansion of cultivated land in sparsely populated areas. The district of Bougouni, in southern Mali, falls within this zone. We used multiple data sources including a panel survey, remote sensing-based land cover classification, population data, and farmer focus group discussions, to investigate whether the area is following a commonly-described pathway of agricultural intensification due to increasing land scarcity. We then used our understanding of historical change to explore plausible future pathways. Bougouni forms part of the expansion zone of the CMDT, which since the mid-1980s has provided support for intensive agricultural systems of cotton-maize rotations with animal traction and use of mineral fertilizer. In the period of the panel survey (1994–2012), cropped land at household level was correlated with household size: households with less than one full team of draft oxen cultivated 0.50ha/family member, while households with two or more teams cultivated 0.82ha/family member (R2>0.8). At the village level, cropped land increases varied with the amount of remaining available land and the importance of off-farm income. We see some intensification in maize and cotton, and corresponding improvements in food self-sufficiency. However, despite increasing fertilizer use, average maize and cotton yields remain around 1600 and 900kg/ha respectively, well below national averages. Other crops are still grown in outfields relying on long fallows with limited nutrient inputs. Thus rather than either intensification or extensification the agricultural situation may be best described as stagnation. This may be due to limited incentives to invest in agriculture when compared to opportunities such as gold mining or small businesses, which (in 2012) contribute at least 25% of household income to ten out of 29 households. In future, cropland expansion will likely continue, which could lead to increased conflict between farmers and transhumant herders, and could lead to increased inequality at village level. Factors mitigating the tendency to land expansion include opportunities for off-farm income and migration, or market opportunities and capacity to produce high-value crops such as mango, cashew, or vegetables. This could preserve some remaining savannah area for grazing use and conservation purposes. Understanding household livelihood systems as part of a network of complex social and ecological factors allows the identification and exploration of multiple viable pathways towards desirable futures.

Potential of dendrochronology in assessing carbon sequestration rates of Vitellaria paradoxa in southern Mali, West Africa

This study aimed to investigate the applicability of dendrochronology for assessing the growth dynamics and response to climate variability and to estimate the aboveground carbon stock and carbon sequestration potential of Vitellaria paradoxa in southern Mali. Twenty stem disks were collected from three land-use types (parklands, fallows and protected areas) in Koutiala and Yanfolila districts. We combined a standard dendrochronological approach with biomass allometric equations to estimate the growth and carbon stocks. The results showed that V. paradoxa forms distinct growth ring boundaries but most of the disks from parklands did not successfully cross-date due to management operations like pruning. The tree-ring width showed a significant standardized coefficient of regression with rainfall (r2=0.66, p<0.001) but insignificant correlation with temperature. One-way analysis of variance showed no significant difference (p>0.05) for C-sequestration as well as for carbon stocks in aboveground biomass for both land-use types and sites. Mean values of the amount of C-sequestered in Yanfolila were 0.112±0.0.065MgCha−1yr−1 in parklands, 0.075±0.018MgCha−1yr−1 in fallows and 0.064±0.028MgCha−1yr−1 in protected areas. In Koutiala, the values were 0.068±0.020MgCha−1yr−1 in the parklands and 0.053±0.017MgCha−1yr−1 in the fallows. These results clearly indicate that dendrochronology can be applied to assess growth and carbon sequestration potential of V. paradoxa. These results also suggest that climate change could affect the growth and carbon sequestration potential of V. paradoxa. Given the limited size of our sample, figures on the amount of carbon are indicative calling for applying the tested approaches to larger samples and also to other tree species in West Africa.

Impact of Climate Change on Groundwater Resources in the Klela Basin, Southern Mali

Investigations of groundwater resources in order to understand aquifer system behavior are vital to the inhabitants of the Klela Basin, Mali, because groundwater is the only permanent water resource and is used for drinking water and irrigation. Due to climate change, this vital resource is being threatened. Therefore, MODFLOW was applied in this study to simulate groundwater dynamics. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of climate change on groundwater resources in the Klela basin using the RCP4.5 (Representative Concentration Scenario 4.5 W/m2) climate scenario. Climatological, geological, hydrogeological, hydraulic and demographic data were collected and used as model input data. Groundwater recharge was estimated to be approximately 165.3 mm/year using the EARTH (Extended model for Aquifer Recharge and soil moisture Transport through the unsaturated Hardrock) model. Recharge was then used as groundwater model input. The sandstone aquifer in the study area was simulated in steady and transient conditions. The results showed that hydraulic conductivity values varied from 1.1 to 13.9 m/day. The model was used for scenario quantification after model calibration and verification using three different piezometer data sets. The results of the simulated MODFLOW model showed a decrease in groundwater levels over time.

Shallow wells, the untapped resource with a potential to improve agriculture and food security in southern Mali

Excessive rainwater during the rainy season and lack of water in the dry season have been challenging the agricultural productivity and food security for rural communities in southern Mali. Various soil and water conservation practices were implemented in the past to improve crop yields and income, and reverse the effect of land degradation. However, none of these efforts looked into the potential use of shallow wells at a spatial scale to improve the agricultural productivity and hence the food security in the region. In total 484 shallow wells were geo-referenced, mapped and studied in two districts, Bougouni and Koutiala, in southern Mali to understand the dynamics of groundwater recharge and relationship with rainfall in different seasons. The study found out that shallow wells were mainly utilized for household and livestock water consumption and not for agricultural water use. Well construction history followed the trend of the severe drought that hit the Sahel in the years of the 1970s and 1980s. Majority of wells (87 % in Bougouni and 84 % in Koutiala) were constructed after the drought period with significant variation of construction in the two districts (p value 0.032). Well depths ranged from 1 to 150 m, with the majority of wells (64 %) within the depth range of 6.5–14.5 m (p value 0.043). During the dry season water was available in the majority of wells (73 %) at a depth range from 5.5 to 15.5 m (p value 0.996). In the rainy season on average 84 % of wells in Bougouni and 94 % of wells in Koutiala experience water level rise within the range of 0.5–10.5 m (p value 0.423/Bougouni and 0.991/Koutiala). In few of the studied villages shallow wells were found to be fast recharging, thus enabling farmers to buffer the negative effects of drought conditions. Shallow wells are important sources of water in rural Mali. The wells have adequate recharging capacity during the rainy season and insignificant water level variation during the dry season. Though accessing water from shallow wells was labour-intensive and mostly done by women and the youth, water is available within an average depth ranging from 5.5 to 15.5 m from most studied wells. The issue of water scarcity in different seasons was thus attributed to accessibility due to the lack of appropriate water lifting mechanisms. Groundwater was an untapped resource in Mali, and we suggest groundwater management needs to be given consideration along with other management practices in the changing climate condition to improve the agricultural productivity and food security.

Spatial optimization of Jatropha based electricity value chains including the effect of emissions from land use change

Jatropha was identified as a potential feedstock to satisfy off-grid and on-grid energy solutions. However, the potential has been questioned due to agronomic frustrations, the lack of an organized value chain and heavy criticism on biofuels due to emissions triggered by land use change (LUC). To contribute to the realistic integration of Jatropha in rural development, this article proposes a modeling approach to probe the feasibility of Jatropha-based electrification in rural Africa and the layout of such a value chain.A multi-component modeling setup is presented, featuring a life cycle inventory, spatial modeling and the optimization model, OPTIMASS. In this modeling setup, OPTIMASS is parameterized with data regarding the global warming potential and the potential location of each operation in the value chain including cultivation sites and related LUC emissions. This enables OPTIMASS to spatially design the Jatropha-based on-grid and off-grid electrification value chain (i.e. cultivation, transport and storage, biofuel production and electricity generation) in Southern Mali with minimal GWP to reach 10% substitution of fossil fuels for Jatropha in electricity production for a current and two future electricity demand scenarios.Analysis of the optimization results demonstrates that emissions from transporting the oil are lower than LUC emissions per harvestable seed of other sites. Finally, it can be said that harnessing the entirety of the Jatropha value chain is crucial to make it GWP competitive relative to fossil fuels in which the location of plantations is crucial to attain low LUC-related emissions and viable yields.

Lassa Virus Seroprevalence in Sibirilia Commune, Bougouni District, Southern Mali.

Lassa virus (LASV) is endemic to several nations in West Africa. In Mali, LASV was unknown until an exported case of Lassa fever was reported in 2009. Since that time, rodent surveys have found evidence of LASV-infected Mastomys natalensis rats in several communities in southern Mali, near the border with Côte d'Ivoire. Despite increased awareness, to date only a single case of Lassa fever has been confirmed in Mali. We conducted a survey to determine the prevalence of LASV exposure among persons in 3 villages in southern Mali where the presence of infected rodents has been documented. LASV IgG seroprevalence ranged from 14.5% to 44% per village. No sex bias was noted; however, seropositivity rates increased with participant age. These findings confirm human LASV exposure in Mali and suggest that LASV infection/Lassa fever is a potential public health concern in southern Mali.

Farmers’ perceptions of climate change impacts on ecosystem services delivery of parklands in southern Mali

Agroforestry parklands in the Sahel provide a number of ecosystem services that help farmers cope better with climate change effects and thus reducing their vulnerability. However, parklands are threatened due to the decline in densities of species that are sensitive to drought and that might compromise the delivery of the above mentioned ecosystem services to farmers. Therefore, data were collected by interviewing 400 smallholder farmers to elucidate farmers’ perceptions of climate change in southern Mali and potential consequences on the delivery of ecosystem services from the parklands. Descriptive statistics and multinomial logit model were used to analyse the data collected and identify the indictors as well as the determinants of farmers’ perception of climate change. The findings revealed increases in the frequency of strong wind, dust, drought, high temperatures and number of hot days as the main climate change-related indicators. Furthermore, an early cessation of the rainy season, frequent drought and wind were found to be the factors impeding a better delivery of the ecosystem services from the parklands. Early cessation of rains and frequent drought might affect the water availability which in turn affects the flowering and fruiting phases of the trees. The occurrence of strong wind causes the shedding of the flowers thus reducing the fruit production. Age, educational level, farm size and gender are key factors influencing farmer’s perception of climate change. The strategies adopted by these farmers to cope with climate shocks include use of improved drought-tolerant crop varieties, diversification of crops, off-farm activities and seasonal migration. Based on these findings, we therefore suggest the development of conducive environment that can help create agricultural related off-farm income earning activities that could protect active households from the impacts of climate change and variability.

Spatial Structure Of Agricultural Biodiversity In Southern Mali

The diversity of cropping systems and varieties plays an important role in the ability of family farms to resist socio-economic and environmental shocks. For better conservation, agricultural diversity needs to be characterized and monitored in space and time. While initially dominated by the elements on price, surfaces, and productions, agricultural monitoring systems have recently incorporated diversity issues. The objective of this work is to analyze the spatial structure of agricultural biodiversity and to explain the links between this structure and the agronomic practices and results in family farms in southern Mali. The methodology was to develop, test, and maintain a conceptual model of spatial data on a sample of three villages. The analysis of these data is based on the spatial distribution of biodiversity and its correlation with the practices and agro-ecological conditions, results, and agronomic performance. The results show a very large specific and varietal diversity. We do not observe a clear link between spatial distribution and the characteristics of the physical environment, with the exception of the improved variety of Kalafoufigue located on a particular type of slope. The same observation is made when the relationship is between the spatial distribution of the variety and the technical route. Spatial analysis has developed a map of the diversity across the country village. Thus, spatial distribution points plot a surface distribution across local villages, and these results open the way for greater contributions of geographical analysis in agriculture and for scaling territories that remain a challenge for agriculture.

Competing Assertions of Muslim Masculinity in Contemporary Mali

This article counters the ‘female bias’ of scholarship on Islam and gender in Africa by exploring competing understandings of ideal masculinity and what it means to be a respectable Muslim in urban Mali. Special attention is paid to competing constructions of Muslim masculinity that inform the project of Islamic moral and political reform that has gained currency in southern and northern Mali in recent decades. The article scrutinizes the double idiom of reform and conservation articulated by leading spokesmen of Islamic renewal in different parts of Mali and their varying ways of incorporating transnational Islamic intellectual influences. While living conditions in the urban south and north of the country grant young men unequal chances for economic success and political influence, they all face a situation in which education generates and reproduces structural inequality, granting uneven chances for employment, social maturity, and respectability. It is because of their shared dilemmas that many young men support moral and political reform that allows them to gain respectability as a man and ‘proper’ Muslim. By considering the political aspirations, social grievances, and constructions of masculinity articulated by different categories of young men, the article demonstrates the heterogeneity and entanglements of the visions and measures promoted under the heading of political and moral Islamic renewal in Mali.

Rat-atouille: A Mixed Method Study to Characterize Rodent Hunting and Consumption in the Context of Lassa Fever.

Lassa fever is a zoonotic hemorrhagic illness predominant in areas across Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Guinea, Liberia, and southern Mali. The reservoir of Lassa virus is the multimammate mouse (Mastomys natalensis), a highly commensal species in West Africa. Primary transmission to humans occurs through direct or indirect contact with rodent body fluids such as urine, feces, saliva, or blood. Our research draws together qualitative and quantitative methods to provide a fuller and more nuanced perspective on these varied points of human–animal contact. In this article, we focus on the hunting, preparation, and consumption of rodents as possible routes of exposure in Bo, Sierra Leone. We found that the consumption of rodents, including the reservoir species, is widespread and does not neatly tally against generational or gender lines. Further, we found that the reasons for rodent consumption are multifactorial, including taste preferences, food security, and opportunistic behavior. We argue that on certain topics, such as rodent consumption, establishing trust with communities, and using qualitative research methods, is key to investigate sensitive issues and situate them in their wider context. To conclude, we recommend ways to refine sensitization campaigns to account for these socio-cultural contexts.