Fruit and vegetables grown in Mali are under strong competition from imported products. These imported products come as unfair competition to the local producers who see the imports saturate the market at low prices that do not respect the market rules.
Farmers that live solely off their work are suffering. For these workers to thrive from their hard labour, the import sector needs to be reviewed, as it is in certain countries such as Senegal where local producers interests have been protected. Regulations are made every year in Senegal to protect the farmers and allow them to live off their livelihood.
The Minister of Agriculture could also target certain fruits that are produced on a large scale in Mali, such as oranges, mangos, potatoes and bananas, and impose a seasonal import restriction.