The Double Exposure of Climate Variability and Upstream Dams Development among Fishermen of Bargondaga and Dagawomina in the Inner Niger Delta of Mali

Abstract

Like all agricultural sub-sectors fisheries are expected to be highly affected by the variability of climate in Mali and most of the Sahelian states. As a response to climate change and to increase its agricultural productivity, the Malian government intends to develop its hydraulic potential through the construction of large dams, water storage infrastructures and the development of irrigation schemes along the main rivers of the country. The objective of this study was to analyse the impact of climate variability and these dams on the livelihood of fishing communities, as well as to analyse their adaptation strategies. This was done by examining fishermen’s awareness of climate variability and the perceived effects of combined climate variability and water development projects. The study was conducted in two villages Bargondaga and Dagawomina located in the Inner Niger Delta of Mali. Data included socio-economic characteristics, fishing type, experience in climate variability and adaptation strategies to climatic risks and the increased water uptake through dams and irrigation schemes. The results reveal that fishing communities in the Inner Niger Delta face a double exposure to climate variability and the ongoing water development projects. The main impact of climate variability and increased water development projects concern the decrease in fish catch, the decrease of the inundated areas, fishing spaces and cultivable land. Among the responsive strategies to reduce these impacts figure income diversification, out-migration, irrigated rice cultivation, as well as the diversification of fishing equipment. Findings show that in order to decrease the vulnerability of inland fisheries to climate variability and large dam development, adaptation policies need to take the socio-economic and environmental situation of fishing communities located downstream of dams into account and to increase their involvement in the decision making process.