Mali is a semi-arid, landlocked, agrarian, low income country with a rapidly growing population. The country is mainly rural. Poverty is high, specifically in rural areas; however, the number of people living with less than US$ 1.9/day has declined from 60% to 51% from 2000 to 2010. Agriculture (including livestock) provides 36 to 40% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) according to different sources. Livestock products value chain in the country is relatively underdeveloped due to feedstock constraints, poor local breeds, lack of appropriate infrastructure and distribution system. Live animals are commonly traded on the domestic market and exported to neighboring countries. The potential exists to increase livestock productions, but it requires appropriate policies, effective public institutions, capacity building, positive business environment, security and increased investments by both the public and private sectors. This report seeks to inform policy makers, private and public investors about promising innovations in the Mali livestock value chains and their context that could enable a transformation of the livestock economy taking into account its multiple trade-offs and co-benefits. The main objective is to inform public and private decision makers on opportunities to invest in the livestock value chain based on existing information, data, successes, analyses and lessons learned in the livestock sector in Mali. This study essentially builds on literature review and consultative workshops.

Published as FARA Research Report Volume 5 No: 7 (2020).