Mali has increased its agricultural support budget to CFA164.4 billion (US$289 million) for the 2026/2027 farming season, as authorities seek to revive cotton production and strengthen food output in a country where farming remains central to both export earnings and household livelihoods.
The new allocation, announced during the 16th session of the National Executive Committee for Agriculture (CENA) held on April 2 in Bamako, represents a 2 percent increase from the previous campaign.
The spending plan highlights the government’s effort to support two of the country’s most strategic priorities: restoring momentum in the cotton sector, one of Mali’s main foreign exchange earners, and raising cereal production to reinforce food security.
Cotton target rises sharply
For the upcoming season, Mali is targeting 598,500 tons of seed cotton, up sharply from the 433,700 tons recorded in the previous campaign.
If achieved, that would amount to a rise of nearly 38 percent, signalling an ambitious attempt to revive a sector that has experienced unstable performance in recent years.
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Cotton is Mali’s second-largest export after gold, and fluctuations in output have significant implications for farm incomes, export receipts and the broader rural economy.
The Malian Company for Textile Development (CMDT), which oversees much of the country’s cotton sector, said in March it plans to expand planted area by 50 percent to reach 630,000 hectares.
That expansion is expected to increase demand for farm inputs including fertilisers, pesticides and insecticides, which are often subsidised by the state as part of seasonal support programmes.
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While authorities have yet to disclose a detailed breakdown of how the agricultural budget will be distributed, support for cotton producers is likely to be a major component of the package given the scale of the production target.
Pest pressure remains a key risk
Despite the optimism around higher output, producers continue to warn that pest infestations remain a major threat to the sector.
Local media outlet Studio Tamani reported on April 3 that farmers are particularly concerned about the damage caused by jassids, small parasitic insects that have hit cotton fields across parts of West Africa in recent years.
“The support we need most right now is to protect our crops. If the damage seen in previous years happens again, it will be a major setback for the cotton sector,” Studio Tamani quoted farmer Sékou Coulibaly from Ngoutjina as saying.
Jassid attacks have become a recurring concern for cotton growers in the region, reducing yields and increasing pressure on already fragile farm margins.
A rebound in output would therefore be closely watched, not only for its impact on Mali’s rural economy but also for its role in the regional cotton market.
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Since producing 777,000 tons in the 2021/2022 season, Mali’s cotton output has failed to rise above 700,000 tons, weakening its competitiveness against regional rivals.
That decline has cost Mali its position as Africa’s leading cotton producer to Benin several times, including during the 2025/2026 campaign.
Cereal production also expected to grow
Alongside cotton, the government is also betting on stronger cereal output to improve food availability in a country where staple grains are central to household consumption.
For the 2026/2027 campaign, Mali expects cereal production to rise by 4 percent year on year to 11.91 million tons.
Cereal crops remain a cornerstone of Mali’s agricultural system and are vital for food security, especially in rural areas where households depend heavily on domestic production.
According to data from the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), maize is Mali’s leading cereal crop, accounting for about 40 percent of total cereal production, followed by rice, millet and sorghum.
The expected increase in grain output comes as many governments across sub-Saharan Africa continue to prioritise domestic food production in response to weather shocks, high input costs and persistent pressure on household purchasing power.
Further details on how Mali plans to allocate its farm support budget across cereals and other agricultural subsectors are expected in the coming months.
