In kind contribution of France Government is of paramount importance for the development of IPTRID's activities.

In 2004, the French Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAAPR) agreed to continue its support to the Programme through the extension of the secondment of a Senior Officer until 30 June 2005.

The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAE) supports IPTRID's activities through the financing of an Associate Professional Officer (APO).
In 2004, the extension of the present French APO, Sara Fernandez, was signed for a 12 month period. This agreement has been reached on a cost sharing basis and illustrates the active role of the country Partner in giving its in-kind contributions.
Moreover, the Ministry expressed its will to appoint a new APO to IPTRID in 2005, after the termination of the contract of the present APO.

Role within IPTRID's activities:

Some activities are herein highlighted among the large number of initiatives financed and supported by France Government:

Identification et diffusion de bonnes pratiques sur les périmètres irrigués en Afrique de l'Ouest (Study and dissemination of good irrigation practicies in Western Africa) (recently completed project)

The project consisted in a study carried out over one to three cropping season on twelve irrigated schemes in five West African countries (Burkina Faso, Mali, Mauritania, Niger and Senegal), the final objective being to identify, characterize and assess practices, at levels of plot and scheme, individual and collective, technical, organizational and financial, and to disseminate practices having a positive impact.
On the base of information gathered, a database on agronomic, hydraulic, economic and organizational aspects was constructed: it provides precise and recent information on the technical and economic performances of Sahelian irrigated schemes.

Production of the French versions of the GRID magazine (on-going project)

France financial contribution is fundamental for the traslation in French of GRID Network magazine, IPTRID's flag publication produced on a six-month basis regularly since 1992. It aims to improve the exchange of information among researchers and between researchers and practitioners, providing news on recent innovations in irrigation and drainage, notable research results and updates on IPTRID's activities.

Virtual Center for Agricultural Water, Design and prototype phase: Project description (English, French) (on-going project)

The project has three major components:
1. Conception of an Internet based information system for disseminating quality information.
2. Providing consistent information based on complex data on environment, agriculture, water management, validated by a group of experts.
3. Organizing a network of stakeholders (experts and beneficiaries) to promote data exchange and validation.