Mali: $573.4 million needed for the second phase of the National Proximity Irrigation Program

Irrigation, a strategic lever against drought

In a Sahelian context marked by climatic variability and recurrent droughts, the Malian government is placing irrigation at the heart of its agricultural strategy. On May 21, 2025, the Council of Ministers announced the necessary mobilization of a budget of 573.4 million dollars (333.3 billion FCFA) to finance the second phase of the National Proximity Irrigation Program (PNIP), scheduled for the period 2025-2034.

This program aims to strengthen the country’s agricultural autonomy while securing food production through better management of water resources. Funding will come from the Malian government, the private agricultural sector, beneficiary communities and international technical and financial partners.

A continuous but unfinished program

Launched in 2012, the initial objective of the PNIP was to develop 126,000 irrigable hectares. To date, however, only 66,031 hectares have been developed, representing just 52.4% of the target. This second phase therefore aims to accelerate the pace and complete the outstanding achievements, with a renewed political will to strengthen the resilience of the agricultural sector.

Planned actions include :

• Development of lowlands and village market gardens,
• Controlled flooding along major rivers,
• The installation of small dams andwater retention structures in wadis, oases, lakes and ponds,
• The introduction of flood recession cropping systems, particularly in lake areas.

These actions are part of a local approach, closely linked to the needs of rural populations.

Under-exploited potential nationwide

Mali has 2.2 million hectares of irrigable land, 1.8 million of which are concentrated in the Niger River valley. However, according to FAO data, only 380,000 hectares were equipped for irrigation in 2022, revealing a major development backlog.

This program is also a direct response to the commitments made by Mali at the Dakar+10 Forum, which called on African countries to step up their efforts to guarantee food security and cope with increasing climatic hazards.

Conclusion

With the announcement of this new phase of the PNIP, Mali is reaffirming its determination to modernize its agriculture through irrigation, a crucial lever for strengthening food sovereignty, the self-sufficiency of small-scale producers and climate resilience. However, the success of this ambition depends on the effective mobilization of funding, rigorous governance and, above all, inclusive implementation that takes account of local realities. In a region where every drop of water counts, local irrigation could well become the key to sustainable agricultural development.