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Mali, once the leading cotton producer on the African continent, is now relegated to third place. From now on, it is Benin which rises to the top of this competition.
What was only a persistent rumor was finally confirmed by data: this year, Mali produced only 390,000 tons of cotton, half of the production of the previous year. This spectacular fall places the country in third place among the continent’s white gold producers. The first place is now occupied by Benin with 587,000 tons, followed closely by Burkina Faso. These figures have not yet been officially announced, as ginning continues in some countries, but they were discussed at the last meeting of the Regional Program for Integrated Cotton Production in Africa (RP-PICA) which took place held last week in Abidjan.
All West African countries have been affected to varying degrees by the attack of jassids, insect pests resistant to existing treatments. The shortage of fertilizers in several cotton areas also played a significant role. Due to soaring prices on the international market, importers acquired too few inputs or placed orders too late. In Burkina Faso and Mali, insecurity has also contributed to a reduction in cultivated areas.
Among the explanations put forward by experts in the sector, the early sowing would have enabled the crop to resist better. Moreover, thanks to the anticipation of the authorities, an increased use of fertilizers would have favored plants that were more robust against insects. In this gloomy context, a crucial question arises: how will the producers whose harvests have collapsed engage in the next campaign? A declining harvest puts farmers at risk, as they can no longer repay inputs purchased on credit.
