Kanabougou is a small village located in the river Niger interior delta
in central Mali. In 1995, this village received a grant from a USAID
partner to develop a community irrigation perimeter of 179 hectares.
With the approximately $65,000 received, the village was able to dig
canals to bring irrigation water to the fields and grow rice and vegetables
such as onion, okra, cabbage and tomato. After three years of operation,
the village became not only self-sufficient in rice production (for
local consumption), but also became a net seller of surplus production.
The community organization created in the village around the irrigated
perimeter started collecting fees from each household and the revenue
earned was subsequently used to extend the irrigated perimeter. Currently,
the village grows rice on about 300 hectares and has also made investments
in the construction of classrooms and a heath center. To illustrate
the extent to which the village has prospered, the chief of the village
said: "Before we had our irrigated perimeter, the village was almost
starving. Other villages would not let their daughters get married in
our village because they would starve. Last year, we celebrated ten
weddings and now we can host children from other villages who attend
school in our village because we have classrooms and there is enough
to eat for everybody, including our guests. Our village is now often
referred to as the 'American' Village because of its prosperity."
The "American" Village
