(Ecofin Agency) - Mali will be the largest African cotton producer in 2017-18.

While the cotton season is not yet over (next March), the country has already recorded 721,000 tons of the 725,000 tons expected at the end of the season thanks to better weather than expected, said Brehima Cissé, Secretary General of the Malian chamber of agriculture, to Reuters.

This level of output should allow the country to beat Burkina Faso which is expecting 563,000 tons of cotton due to unfavorable weather condition and pest infestation.

In Mali, cotton sector accounts for 22% of export revenues and provide income to 40% of rural population.

Espoir Olodo