Ministry Of Commerce: Mali'S Cotton Output Is Expected To Drop To 526000 Tons

On January 31, 2023, the Swiss media Africa Finance News Agency reported that Conat, spokesman of Mali Textile Development Company (CMTD), said recently that due to the poor climate and the invasion of the cotton parasite "jasside", Mali's cotton production in the 2022/2023 season is expected to be 526000 tons, down 29% from the 740000 tons predicted last month, 35% lower than the initial forecast of 810000 tons. In this season, Benin is expected to become the largest cotton producing country in Africa with an output of 705000 tons. At present, among the cotton producing countries in the African franc region, only Benin and Cameroon are not affected by the "Giasside worm". Mali, Burkina Faso, Cote d'Ivoire, Togo, Senegal, Niger and other countries in West Africa have been attacked by the "Jassid worm".