Installed on August 5, 2021, the new office of the Confederation of Cotton Producers of Mali held its first meeting in the city of Koutialia on Thursday, August 19. Objective: to introduce its members to thousands of producers in this agricultural zone but also to support the transition. Following the recommendations of the national meetings in the sector, in addition to the fertilizer subsidy, the government approved an increase in the purchase price of cotton from 250 to 280 CFA francs per kilogram before export.
as reported from Bamako, Serge Daniel
In Bamako, it is with the mine for the beautiful days that Bakary Koné, chairman of the cotton producers’ union, connects the hearings in his offices in the river district. “Cotton sowing starts with the rain starting at the end of May,” he says. Around 22 September we start harvesting. This is one of the first times that the cotton price has been set at 280 CFA francs per kilo. We are pleased with this incentive and are pushing to resume production this year. ”
Decline in production in 2020 In 2020, the fall in world prices forced the coronavirus pandemic on Malian farmers to abandon cotton farming because it was unprofitable. As a result of a reduction of 77% of cultivated land. Fadiala Coulibaly is the association’s chief financial officer: “Mali did not make 200,000 tonnes last year. And this is what we see in rising prices for staples, meat, oil because all this comes from cotton indirectly. “
A nightmare campaign that contrasts with this year’s optimism. According to figures from the cotton growers’ union, 810,000 hectares have been sown. “The goal is to go to a million tons, or even more, but like the earth has no 100% control over the yield, no matter what, God willing, Mali will not fall. Not below 800,000 tons this year,” he concludes.
A record harvest forecast for the 2021-2022 campaign that would allow the country to perhaps regain its place as the leading cotton producer in Africa.
► Read also: Mali: after a nightmare year, the country wants to restart its cotton production
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