Mali Seeks Climate Challenges' Solutions at Morocco's Oasis Congress
Rabat — Mali's agriculture ministry looks to innovative solutions from other countries as the West African country battles mounting environmental challenges, according to a senior official attending the second International Congress on Oases and Date Palm.
In an interview with Morocco World News (MWN), Fatoumata Coulibaly Traore, technical advisor to Mali's Minister of Agriculture, said her first participation in the congress opened her eyes to new approaches for protecting the environment and ecosystems.
'This was a real pleasure for me to participate in this congress,' said Traore, an agricultural engineer by training. 'I admit that I learned many things about environmental protection and ecosystems in general.'
The two-day event in Ouarzazate brought together experts from across the globe to share knowledge about oasis agriculture and sustainable farming practices in arid regions.
Mali faces increasing environmental pressures that threaten agricultural productivity. Traore described how her country confronts 'more and more floods during the rainy season' alongside extreme heat periods and widespread soil degradation.
'These are challenges we really face,' she explained, noting that even if 'the government works hard to try to address these challenges, there is still much work to be done.'
The congress provided Mali's delegation with valuable insights into solutions other countries have implemented. Traore stressed that many of these approaches could benefit Mali's agricultural sector.
'We learned about solutions that can be beneficial for our country as well,' she said. 'We learned, and we will go try to see if they can really be applicable in our case.'
The International Congress on Oases and Date Palm focused on sustainable agriculture in desert and semi-arid regions, particularly within oases, addressing issues crucial to countries like Mali that face desertification and climate change impacts.
Read also: AI Offers Hope for Morocco's Groundwater Crisis in Oases
For Traore, the knowledge-sharing opportunity represented a step forward in Mali's efforts to develop climate-resilient agriculture. 'Going in this direction was really a pleasure for me,' she concluded.
The congress revealed how international cooperation and knowledge exchange remain essential tools for countries grappling with similar environmental challenges across Africa and beyond.
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