Mali

Mali has a population of around 17 million.

Mali’s economy is primarily agricultural. Subsistence and commercial agriculture are the bases of the Malian economy. Around four-fifths of the working population is engaged in subsistence agriculture. Millet, rice, wheat and corn (maize), as well as yams and cassava (manioc), are the main subsistence crops, while cotton is an important commercial crop; peanuts (groundnuts), sugarcane, tobacco and tea are also grown for market. Market gardens produce a variety of vegetables and fruits, including cabbages, turnips, carrots, beans, tomatoes, bananas, mangoes and oranges.

27-36% of the food energy consumed in Mali comes from crops that are not native to the region. Most of these plants’ diversity is found elsewhere on the planet.