• Mali plans to increase its total cotton cultivation area to 672,000 hectares in the 2025/2026 season, marking a 7.8% or 50,000-hectare increase from the previous area.
• Along with this expansion, the government aims to boost seed cotton output by almost 20% to reach 682,000 tonnes.

Mali, the second largest cotton producer in West Africa, has been striving to outpace Benin for several years. Despite the challenges slowing production growth, the industry is mobilizing to reach new objectives in the coming campaign.

Mali aims for a total of 672,000 hectares dedicated to cotton cultivation for the 2025/2026 season, according to a statement published on the Ministry of Agriculture's website on June 26.

If achieved, this would signal a 7.8% expansion, or an additional 50,000 hectares compared to the past cultivation area (623,000 hectares), according to the data compiled by the Regional Programme for Integrated Cotton Production in Africa (PR-PICA).

Kouloumégué Dembélé, CEO of the Malian Company for Textile Development (CMDT), said that 38.03% of the goal, or 255,561 hectares, has already been sown, compared to 26.90% at the same point last year.

Overall, the expansion aligns with the government's ambition to boost seed cotton production by nearly 20%, reaching 682,000 tonnes, by the ongoing campaign. Based on the latest estimates reported by PR-PICA, the country produced 569,000 tonnes in the past season.

Observers note that the success of the new campaign goals will hinge on the government's ability to ensure the timely arrival of inputs in the agricultural calendar. The sector will also need to display greater resilience to climate events.

Last year, Mali was one of the West and Central African countries most affected by the floods resulting from heavy rains recorded in July.