Government says on track for cotton target as planting complete

July 22, 2015 12:41 PM

If the harvest target is achieved, it would be the largest on record in the West African country. Mali produced roughly 550,000 tonnes of raw cotton fibre in the 2014-2015 season.

Cotton farmer Karim Traore, 29, surveys his cotton field outside Koutiala August 30, 2012. REUTERS/Joe Penney

Mali completed cotton planting in 97 percent of allocated farmland this week, placing it on track to meet a 2015-2016 production target of 650,000 tonnes, the state-owned CMDT cotton company said.

If the harvest target is achieved, it would be the largest on record in the West African country. Mali produced roughly 550,000 tonnes of raw cotton fibre in the 2014-2015 season.

"Ninety-seven percent is a satisfactory level and for the remaining 3 percent we will be able to make up for that by focusing on higher yields," said Ousmane Traore, technical adviser to the CMDT.

"That means we are still counting on our 650,000 tonne target, so long as the rains continue," he added.

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