Mali - Agricultural SectorMali - Agricultural Sector

Overview

Agricultural activities represent around 33% of GDP and employ nearly 80% of Malians. Mali has important and underexploited agricultural potential, especially in the South and Center regions of the country. A state-owned enterprise, the Office du Niger, manages around 127,000 hectares (ha) of organized agricultural land, primarily through governing land transactions and water management. The state encourages foreign and national private investors to undertake agricultural activities in the Office du Niger’s lands. The Malian government dedicates 15% of its national budget to the agricultural sector and subsidizes the cotton sector. Despite some investment opportunities, Malian agriculture is highly vulnerable to erratic rainfall and fluctuating commodity prices. Climate change is adding greater stress on natural resource management and has caused decreased production yields.

*Production in tons
**Figures in billion CFA

Leading Sub-Sectors

Agricultural production in Mali is largely dominated by cotton and cereals (including rice, millet, sorghum, and wheat). Many agricultural sub-sectors, such as shea butter, mangoes, peanuts, cashews, and biofuels, remain largely underexploited and provide a unique opportunity for investors. Significant opportunities also exist in modernizing Mali’s poultry and livestock production and transformation sectors.

Opportunities

There are opportunities in the agricultural machinery supply areas, fertilizers, agribusiness, farming, irrigation tools, livestock, poultry, import/export, and animal feed. The government’s aim to modernize and equip the agricultural sector may provide business opportunities.

Web Resources

Chamber of Agriculture
Office du Niger
Embassy Bamako’s Commercial Section: BamakoEcon@state.gov