Mali's 2013-14 cotton arrival close to forecast

Mali, a landlocked country in Western Africa, has already received 96.88 percent of the amount of cotton forecast for the ongoing season 2013-14 by the Malian Company for the Development of Textiles (CMDT), according to a Mali Jet report.

 

Mali, a landlocked country in Western Africa, has already received 96.88 percent of the amount of cotton forecast for the ongoing season 2013-14 by #

In April last year, CMDT had estimated the country’s cotton production for the 2013-14 season at 500,000 tons. However, this figure was lowered in October 2013 to 436,000 tons on the basis of ground conditions.

 

Mali, a landlocked country in Western Africa, has already received 96.88 percent of the amount of cotton forecast for the ongoing season 2013-14 by #

CMDT lowered the estimate of cotton production due to late onset of the rainy season, because of which cotton sowing was made in July instead of the normal mid-May.

 

Mali, a landlocked country in Western Africa, has already received 96.88 percent of the amount of cotton forecast for the ongoing season 2013-14 by #

According to the CMDT data, by March 18, 2014, around 423,000 tons of cotton have arrived at various cooperatives and ginning factories, which is around 96.88 percent of the revised forecast.

 

Mali, a landlocked country in Western Africa, has already received 96.88 percent of the amount of cotton forecast for the ongoing season 2013-14 by #

Mali is currently the second-largest producer of cotton in Africa, next only to Burkina Faso, which produces over 500,000 tons of cotton annually.

 

Mali, a landlocked country in Western Africa, has already received 96.88 percent of the amount of cotton forecast for the ongoing season 2013-14 by #

At present, cotton growing in Mali is also being impacted by poor soil. In its effort to address the problem, the Government of Mali is currently developing a soil fertility map and is also correcting soil acidification, which needs large investment.

 

Mali, a landlocked country in Western Africa, has already received 96.88 percent of the amount of cotton forecast for the ongoing season 2013-14 by #

Another challenge being faced by the Malian cotton sector is value-addition. At present, only 1-2 percent of the cotton grown in the country is processed locally, and the remaining gets exported.

 

Mali, a landlocked country in Western Africa, has already received 96.88 percent of the amount of cotton forecast for the ongoing season 2013-14 by #

For the next season 2014-15, CMDT is hoping that the country’s cotton output would increase to 525,000 tons.

 

Mali, a landlocked country in Western Africa, has already received 96.88 percent of the amount of cotton forecast for the ongoing season 2013-14 by #

The Malian Government created CMDT in 1974 to oversee the production and marketing of Mali’s cotton. It is based in Bamako and has several production sites throughout the country, in particular at Koutiala and Fana.

 

Mali, a landlocked country in Western Africa, has already received 96.88 percent of the amount of cotton forecast for the ongoing season 2013-14 by #