•                                        
  •                                        
  •                                        
  •                                        
                                               
                                               
                                               
                                               
  •                                        
  •                                        
  •                                        
  •                                        
                                               
                                               
                                               
                                               
  •                                        
  •                                        
  •                                        
  •                                        
                                               
                                               
                                               
                                               
  •                                        
  •                                        
  •                                        
  •                                        
                                               
                                               
                                               
                                               
  •                                        
  •                                        
  •                                        
  •                                        
  • Does Mali have a cotton industry?
  • Cotton production continues to grow rapidly in Mali and contributes significantly to the country’s economy despite often challenging trading conditions. These figures are from the 2022/23 cotton season. To find out more, read our latest annual report.
  • Where is better cotton grown in Mali?
  • Better Cotton is grown in North-East Mali and South Mali, with the first Better Cotton harvest taking place in 2011. When is Better Cotton grown in Mali? Cotton is sown from June to July and harvested from October to January.
  • When is cotton harvested in Mali?
  • Cotton is sown from June to July and harvested from October to January. Cotton farmers in Mali face climate challenges, with shorter growing seasons, poor soil health, high input costs and unstable cotton prices. Farmers rely on rain to grow their crops, so extreme weather in the form of late and erratic rainfall causes real problems.
  • Why was the Malian cotton sector polarised?
  • As a consequence of donors' misjudgement of the political and social realities underlying the Malian cotton sector, dialogue among stakeholders was difficult and polarised, forcing the government to spend considerable time and resources to find a suitable compromise.
  • What is a peasant struggle in Mali?
  • ‘ Peasant struggles in Mali: from defending cotton producers’ interests to becoming part of the Malian power structures ’, Review of African Political Economy, 37, 125: 299 – 314. CrossRef Google Scholar Serra, R. 2012. ‘Beyond farmers’ taxation: a second-best perspective on cotton sector reforms in West Africa’. Working Paper 24.
  • Which part of Mali is suited to farming?
  • Only the southern part of Mali is suited to farming, and less than 2% of Mali's area is cultivated. Agriculture accounted for about 45% of GDP, 21% of exports, and over 80% of the active labor force in 2001. Millet, rice, and corn are the basic food crops.