Mali forecasts 2016/17 rice output of 2.7 million tones, up nearly 11 percent

Mali, West Africa’s second-biggest rice producer behind Nigeria, forecasts output of 2.712 million tonnes of unprocessed paddy rice in the 2016/17 season, up nearly 11 percent from last season, a government document showed on Wednesday.

The landlocked nation produced 2.451 million tonnes of rice last year, falling short of an initial target of 2.6 million tonnes because of the late arrival of seasonal rains.

A government planning document for the new season seen by Reuters showed that Mali plans to invest about 51 billion CFA francs ($86.23 million) to boost production. More than 37 billion CFA francs will go towards purchasing fertiliser. Improvements in irrigation are also planned.

The cost will be divided between the state, which will finance 35 percent of the project via subsidies, with the rest to be paid for by producers.

If the target is reached, Mali should produce a rice surplus of 484,617 tonnes.
“The sale of this rice surplus could generate gross revenue of around 145.385 billion CFA francs in favour of the producers,” the document said.

Mali’s rice season includes a production phase from May/June to September/October followed by a marketing phase from October/November to the end of March.