International Symposium : African Cotton Zones

Dynamics and Sustainability of African Cotton Zones, 21-24 November 2017, Bamako, Mali.
Deadline for abstract submission: 30 June 2017

With the support of the “Agence Française deDéveloppement” (AFD), Malian government has implemented from 2013 to 2017, the“Project Support to Governance improvement of the Cotton Sector in its newinstitutional configuration and to productivity and sustainability of farmingsystems in cotton zone” (PASE II). Project achievements are important andinteresting in terms of research development, to innovations extension, farmerscounseling, restructuring and strengthening of farmers' organizations and trainingof producers and extension services. It is important to share this experiencefor the benefit of Malian cotton stakeholders and more widely to Africans. Inaddition, since five years, Mali's cotton production has increased regularly bygiving back to Mali a leading role in this sector in sub-Saharan Africa. Thissymposium will therefore be an opportunity for the Malian cotton stakeholdersand those from other sectors, in Africa and beyond, to share their experiencesand achievements. At international level, such a demonstration justifies itselfon one hand by cotton exceptional contribution in agricultural development insub-Saharan Africa and on the other hand by necessarily taking into account thesustainability of African cotton agriculture. Cotton production has maintaineditself on the same territories for decades, thanks to the involvement of familyfarms and the efficient support of extension services, research, producerorganizations (POs), but also public officials and financial partners.

This success, which some called"Agricultural Revolution", deserves sharing for cotton enhancement. Thisinternational symposium on dynamics of African cotton zones is timely because, sincethe mid-1980s, there has been no big meeting bringing together the main actorsof African cotton sector: producers, technical services, cotton companies, POs,decision-makers and donors.

Publiée : 13/06/2017