Peasant struggles in Mali: from defending cotton producers’ interests to becoming part of the Malian power structures

Abstract

This article describes how the organisation and representation of cotton growers in Mali developed from the mid 1970s to the current day, from the setting up of Village Associations through to the privatisation of the cotton industry. The research focused most closely on the relationships between the growers’ organisations and the state-owned cotton company, as well as on the different struggles throughout this period. It can be seen that at the same time as peasant participation was increasing, a ‘cotton elite’ also emerged. Far from reshaping the power structures operating in the cotton sector, this elite appropriated them.

Navigating dynamic contexts: African cooperatives as institutional bricoleurs

“…Many farmers could not repay loans they had taken out with their associations and a large number ran into debt. By 2006, many farmers in the district had abandoned cotton (Roy, 2010). To survive farmers started to look to cash crops other than cotton.…”

Cotton sector reform in Mali: explaining the puzzles

“…In response, farmers first organized spontaneous meetings to express their dissatisfaction at CMDT corrupt management and low cotton prices, and then called for a national boycott of cotton. Despite the partial farmer adhesion to the boycott, following disagreements between a newly formed Crisis Committee and the main farmer union (Syndicat des Producteurs de Coton et de Vivriers, SYCOV) (Roy, 2010), cotton production abruptly halved (from about 460,000 tonnes in 1999/2000 to 243,000 tonnes the following season). This marked a political victory for farmers, demonstrated cotton growers' strategic importance, and gave the CMDT and the government a lesson they have not forgotten to this date.…”

Fonder sa légitimité par le plaidoyer ?

“…Au Sénégal, des fédérations paysannes issues d'organisations régionales fondées dans les années 1970 ont conquis une place dans la négociation des politiques agricoles (Pesche, 2009 ;Hrabanski, 2010). Au Mali, les producteurs dans les zones cotonnières (Bingen, 1996 ;Roy, 2010) et irriguées ont fondé dans les années 1990 des syndicats puis des fédérations, couplant participation à la gestion de la filière et défense des intérêts paysans. Ces organisations se sont fédérées à l'échelle sous-régionale.…”