Mali cotton output to shoot up in 2012-13

18 May '12

2 min read

In spite of several adversities being faced by it, the West African land-locked country of Mali is expecting a huge rise in its cotton output for the 2012-13 season.

Most of the cotton cultivation in Mali is undertaken in southern part of the country, whereas the northern part has been hit by the March 22 military revolt.

Alongside gold, cotton is also considered to be a foundation of Mali's economy.

The country projects its cotton output for the 2012-13 season at around 500,000 tons, up from 2011-12 season's output of 445,143 tons. Further, good rainfall and steady local farmgate cotton prices are also expected to stir production.

In the past, West Africa contributed around 15 percent of the global cotton exports, but then in early 2000s it suffered a severe setback due to a market crash, which the West African states allege was due to subsidies extended by competing nations like the United States to its cotton growers.

Following the market crash, most farmers shifted to other crops as they saw less profitability in cultivating the crop. However, as the cotton prices soared significantly during 2010 and 2011, farmers once again started getting attracted to cotton.

Cotton cultivation is undertaken in Mali from May to October.

Fibre2fashion News Desk - India