Working visit to Mali on the CSIR-WAAPP visiting scientists programme

Abstract

As one of the requirements of the West Africa Agricultural Productivity Programme (WAAP), Mali WAAPP office requested the services of a Food Scientist from Ghana to assist in the implementation of the project activities. I, Gregory Afra Komlaga, a Food Scientist/Technologist, from CSIR-Food Research Institute (CSIR-FRI), Ghana, was nominated by the Director of CSIR-FRI with approval by the Deputy Director General of CSIR to represent Ghana. The main task for me in Mali was to assist in Post-Harvest rice processing. I was also trained to co-ordinate and conduct a regional survey in Accra on rice consumers' habits and preferences after which I helped to analyze the results. I worked with "Institut d'Economic Rurale" (IER), Mali, for a period of one month and all expenses were borne by WAAPP, Mali. I left Ghana on the 31st of October 2011 and arrived on the same day in Bamako, Mali by air. I was warmly welcomed on arrival at the Senou International Airport, Bamako, Mali, by Dr. Coulibaly Salimata Sidibe, the coordinator of the visiting programme and the Head, "Laboratoire de Technologie Alimentaire" IER, Sotuba. I was formally introduced to the Coordinator of WAAPP, Mali in the person of Dr. Gaoussou Traore and the rest of the staff the next day by Dr. Coulibaly. Work began on the third day until November 8, 2011 when I returned to Ghana to conduct a survey on rice consumers' habits and preferences in Accra. The survey in Accra was conducted together with selected staff of CSIR-FRI from November 10-16, 2011. The suburbs covered in the survey were Legon, Madina, Achimota, Accra Central (Osu, 37, Kaneshie, Makola), Ashaiman and Tema. I returned to Mali on November 21,2011 with the data gathered. The data was discussed and added to data collected from Senegal, Mali and Benin on similar surveys conducted earlier. Knowledge was shared in rice parboiling and preparation of Omu Tuo (rice balls) with the staff of IER, Mali from November 24 - 28, 201 L I finally departed for Ghana on November 29,2011