Cover_Rebuilding West Africas Food Potential

Chapter 13. Rice in Mali: Policies for competitive and inclusive value chain development 431

Figure 10. Functional links between actors and between different rice markets in Mali

Source: Diakité (2006)

Table 2. Typology of rice markets in Mali

Market type Characteristics

Small production

markets

Primary collection markets, difficult to access;

Main actors: producers and commissioners / collectors large collection centres.

Large production

markets

Consolidation focal points before transport in consumption centres;

Located along tarmac and dirt roads;

Main actors: producers from nearby villages and collectors / aggregators bringing

goods from small production markets;

Wholesale

markets

Located in urban centres;

Run by relatively prosperous operators who also invest as in import channels;

Supply many retailers with locally and imported rice;

System based on highly concentrated trade;

Supplied by a large number of intermediate who often play multiple roles within the sector;

farmers / vendors, processors / traders, merchants, and who often only have virtual stocks.

Retail

markets

Consumer markets, interface between wholesalers and consumers with rather small

profit margins ranging from 10% to 15% between wholesale and retail.

Cross-border markets Generic term for all kinds of markets located near national borders

Source: Diakité (2006)