Chapter 5. Impact of Mali’s food and agricultural policies 171
period. On the other hand, imports, thinly traded products and products related to food security
have generally received disincentives at average levels of -16 percent, -24 percent and -21 percent,
respectively. The group of exported products shown in Figure 11 is not homogeneous. Cotton has
more importance among these products and this commodity alone has a large impact on the group’s
incentives. In fact, groundnut and beef production were generally at a disadvantage during the study
period, with averages of -5 percent and 9 percent, respectively.
Moreover, results from group analysis should not mislead the reader into thinking there is a coherent
policy for exports, which is far from the case in Mali. The government has not adopted specific policy
measures supporting groundnuts or beef, and this is reflected in the negative NRPs for producers of
both products (see Figure 12 below).
Figure 12. Comparison of nominal rates of protection (NRPs) at producer level for exported products,
in %, 2005-2010.
Source: Authors
Levels of incentives and disincentives have remained relatively stable over the study period, with the
exception of changes in levels of incentives linked to very significant price movements during the food
price crisis of 2008-2009.
During the 2008-2009 food price crisis, incentives became stronger in the category of exported
products while disincentives came close to zero for imports. However, disincentives have worsened
for thinly traded products and products related to food security. This can be explained by the
implementation of government policies favorable to certain import products, such as rice for urban
consumers, an approach that clearly did not encourage producers. Similarly, the rise in international
cotton prices, concomitant with a price increase for most agricultural products, particularly staples,
has benefited exporters. However, export restrictions on commodities, particularly through non-tariff
measures or even export bans, have negatively affected those who sought to profit from higher prices
in neighbouring countries for groundnuts, maize, millet and sorghum.
-0,500,511,522,52005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010Co on Meat Groudnuts