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Agricultural integrated survey programme (AGRISurvey)

Mali releases 2023–24 agricultural data under the 50x2030 Initiative

11/03/2026

Mali has reached an important milestone with the publication of key results from the
2023–24 Enquête Agricole de Conjoncture (EAC)—the first agricultural data produced under the 50x2030 Initiative. This release opens new opportunities for evidence‑based agricultural policymaking and strengthens the country’s agricultural data ecosystem.

This progress is the result of strong cooperation between the Government of Mali, the National Institute of Statistics (INSTAT), and the Planning and Statistics Unit of the Rural Development Sector (CPS/SDR), supported by the 50x2030 Initiative and technical assistance from FAO.

Stronger data for better decisions

Through 50x2030, Mali is implementing a comprehensive agricultural survey programme, improving the production, analysis, and use of agricultural statistics. The publication of the 2023–24 EAC results provides, for the first time, a robust set of national indicators to inform agricultural policies and development strategies. The data also support Mali’s reporting on key national and international frameworks.

Ensuring that these statistics are accessible is central to 50x2030 and Mali’s approaches. With FAO’s support, national institutions received training on microdata dissemination and the development of interactive tables, now available through Mali’s national open data portal. This strengthens transparency and allows policymakers, researchers, and development partners to explore and use the data more effectively.

A step toward a modern agricultural statistics system

The release of the first EAC results under the 50x2030 Initiative marks a shift toward a more integrated and sustainable agricultural statistics system—one that can better support food security, rural development, and inclusive agricultural policies.

With this achievement, Mali reaffirms its commitment to producing and using high‑quality data to address current challenges and prepare for those ahead.

Key findings from the 2023–2024 EAC

The 2023–24 EAC data provide valuable insights into Mali’s agricultural practices and dynamics, including:

  • During the 2023–24 agricultural season, cultivated areas covered approximately 7.45 million hectares, with 90 percent under sole cropping and 10 percent under intercropping systems.
  • The agricultural population is predominantly young, with more than 50 percent of men and 45 percent of women under the age of 15.
  • While men represent a slight majority of the total population (51.7 percent), women are more strongly represented in the economically active age group (20–39 years).
  • Seventy‑seven percent of members of family farming households aged over six years are engaged in agricultural activities.
  • Most farm managers are primarily involved in crop production (77.8 percent), while 67 percent also practice livestock farming as a secondary activity.
  • Cereal production is estimated at 8.84 million tonnes, with 86 percent produced by traditional farming households.

The survey also offers deeper insights into production methods and environmental practices, including manure production and management, the reuse of farm waste and by‑products, wastewater treatment in agricultural activities, the use of crop residues, and the main shocks affecting farming households—particularly climate‑related events and other disruptions that impact production and livelihoods.

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