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Dr. Oumarou Goita

goitre

The management of soil fertility and salinity reminds me of the constraints of rice production in Mali. The most appropriate solution to this problem is the development of salinity tolerant varieties. That is why I was glad when I obtained the AGRA scholarship to study plant breeding at WACCI.
Born in Abidjan Cote d Ivoire Oumarou Goita is the second of nine children and is married with three children. Oumarou s desire to study agriculture begun during his stay with an uncle who was an Agric Technician. Oumarou began his primary education in 1976 at Yorosso Mali. He further enrolled at the Rural Polytechnic of Katibougou to pursue a course in Agricultural Engineering. Soon after He started an internship during the university holidays in Niger at the Regional Center of Agricultural Research of Niono. These holiday courses focused on managing soil fertility improving rice cultivation techniques and water management in rice plots. Oumarou stayed on for an internship at the end of his studies in the same Centre at the Irrigated System Regional Research Poles which consisted of four countries Mali Senegal Niger and Mauritania. This course had the theme: Contribution of Groundwater in the Process of Land Degradation at the office of Niger by Salting Alkalinization. He gained more experience within the same programme where he was recruited.
Since 2001 Oumarou has worked at the Regional Centre of Agricultural Research at Gao Mali focusing on the northern region on irrigated systems (rice and wheat). The research focused on the diagnosis of constraints to rice production in the Perimeter Irrigated and Village (PIV) regions of Timbuktu the introduction of rice varieties with short cycle improved management of soil fertility improving cultivation techniques for wheat production of certified seeds determination of baking quality of the Tetra range and the introduction of wheat varieties with short cycle high yield potential and high baking. These experiences allowed me to perform research and development projects at the PIV regions of Timbuktu and Gao and to take action on the introduction of wheat cultivation in the Office of Niger area.
Oumarou enrolled at the Scientific Institute of Formation and Applied Research University of Mali where he obtained a Masters Degree in Population Environment and specialised in Sustainable Management of Natural Resources.
He hopes his studies at WACCI will equip him with conventional and molecular plant breeding skills to improve the promising rice varieties of Mali to tolerate salinity. I want to focus on finding a rice variety that is high in yield resistant to pests and diseases as well as tolerant to saline environments
For me the potential reward is great for everyone in Mali and perhaps beyond. I can finally contribute my quota to the development of Mali.