• Mali allocates $289 million to 2026/2027 farm campaign, up 2%

• Cotton output target set at 598,500 tons, a 38% increase

• Cereal production expected to rise 4% to 11.9 million tons

Mali has set its agricultural support budget at CFA164.4 billion, or about $289 million, for the 2026/2027 farming season. The figure was announced during the 16th session of the National Executive Committee for Agriculture (CENA), held on April 2 in Bamako.

The allocation marks a 2% increase compared with the previous campaign. Authorities say the funding will support production across key sectors critical to food security and the national economy.

Cotton sector eyes recovery

Cotton, Mali’s second-largest export after gold, remains central to the country’s trade balance. For the 2026/2027 season, Bamako is targeting output of 598,500 tons of seed cotton. If achieved, that would represent a nearly 38% increase from the previous campaign’s 433,700 tons.

While details of the support measures for the sector have not been disclosed, the Malian Company for Textile Development (CMDT) announced in March plans to expand cotton acreage by 50% to reach 630,000 hectares. This expansion will require higher volumes of inputs such as fertilizers, pesticides, and insecticides, which are typically subsidized by the government.

Local reports indicate that pest attacks remain a major concern for producers. “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 reported on April 3, citing farmer Sékou Coulibaly from Ngoutjina.

In Mali, as in much of West Africa, the main pest affecting cotton fields in recent years has been the jassid, a parasitic insect that damages crops.

The expected rebound in cotton production could mark a turning point for the sector, which has seen volatile output over the past five seasons. Since reaching a peak of 777,000 tons in 2021/2022, production has failed to surpass 700,000 tons. This instability has cost Mali its position as Africa’s leading cotton producer to Benin several times, most recently in the 2025/2026 campaign.

Cereal output also set to rise

Cereal production remains another priority due to its role in food security. As in many sub-Saharan African countries, locally grown cereals form the basis of the population’s diet. For the 2026/2027 season, Mali expects cereal output to grow by 4% year over year, reaching 11.91 million tons.

Corn is the country’s main cereal crop, accounting for about 40% of total production, followed by rice, millet, and sorghum, according to FAO data.

Further details on how the budget will be allocated across cereal sectors and other agricultural subsectors—less strategic but still important—are expected in the coming months.

Stéphanas Assocle