Cover_Rebuilding West Africas Food Potential

Chapter 13. Rice in Mali: Policies for competitive and inclusive value chain development 425

Figure 6. Percentage of cultivated land in Mali, by region

0% KayesKoulikoro SikassoSégou Mop Tombouctou Gao TOTAL

10 %

20 %

3 0%

40 %

50 %

60 %

70 %

80 %

90 %

100%

77 370 87 610 252 830382 840 359 520 246 03076 8801 781 687

12 6302 2 390 47 170 117 160150 480 33 970 33 120 418 313

Non -culvated surface

Culvated surface

Source: National Agricultural Directorate, 2009

Notwithstanding the rice land potential in Mali, the average area per farmer has sharply declined: from
7 ha in 1980, it went to 4 ha in 1990 and is less than 3 ha today.

C. Rice productivity

Malian rice yields are closely related to cultivation methods, seasonality and elements such as the know-
how of the producer, how much s/he has access to inputs, and therefore to credit. Figure 7 reflects
productivity statistics by region and cropping patterns.

Table 1. Distribution of land suitable for irrigation by region

Regions Irrigation potential (ha) Cultivated areas

(ha) (%)

Kayes 90 000 1 263 14

Koulikoro 110 000 2 239 20

Sikasso 300 000 4 717 16

Ségou 500 000 1 171 23

Mopti 510 000 150 400 29

Tombouctou 280 000 3 397 12

Gao 110 000 3 312 30

TOTAL 2 200 000 418 313 100

Source: National Agriculture Directorate, 2009