A Market Survey of Fraudulent Pesticides Sold in Mali

A survey conducted in June 2019 by the research team found that approximately 26% of all pesticide volumes sold in Mali are unregistered. These unregistered pesticides include both generic products and counterfeits, with the latter being particularly difficult to identify. The survey results indicate that 5% of the unregistered pesticides come from Ghana, 2% from Côte d'Ivoire, and the remaining 19% are not registered anywhere. The high level of unauthorized pesticides on sale in Mali results in frequent complaints from farmers and potential danger to human health and the environment. Mali's designated regulator, the Comité Sahélien des Pesticides (CSP), authorizes pesticides for sale based on their efficacy and safety. However, the current situation suggests that improved post-registration monitoring and enforcement are critical to ensuring quality inputs for farmers and safety for farmers and consumers. The research team conducted a survey of agro-dealers operating in 10 different markets across Mali, at the beginning of the 2019/20 cropping season. The survey instrument was administered by Pierre Traoré and his survey staff at the Observatoire du Marché Agricole (OMA), who fastidiously photographed every product formulation on sale at each of 120 agro-dealers across Mali. The survey results provide a lower bound on fraudulent pesticide volumes in Mali, as the team focused solely on quantifying unregistered pesticides, which can be measured with some confidence. The study highlights the need for improved post-registration monitoring and enforcement to ensure quality inputs for farmers and safety for farmers and consumers. The research team's findings have significant policy implications for Mali's agricultural sector. The high level of unauthorized pesticides on sale in Mali poses a significant risk to human health and the environment, and highlights the need for improved regulation and enforcement. The study's results suggest that improved post-registration monitoring and enforcement are critical to ensuring quality inputs for farmers and safety for farmers and consumers. The study's methodology involved a survey of agro-dealers operating in 10 different markets across Mali, as well as key informant interviews. The survey instrument was designed to collect data on the types and volumes of pesticides sold by agro-dealers, as well as information on the registration status of these products. The key informant interviews were conducted with experts in the agricultural sector, including representatives of the Comité Sahélien des Pesticides (CSP) and the Observatoire du Marché Agricole (OMA). The study's results are presented in several tables, including Table 5, which shows the share of pesticide volumes sold by category, and Table 7, which shows the unregistered pesticides as a share of total products and volumes sold in Mali. The study's findings are also discussed in the context of the policy implications for Mali's agricultural sector. The research team's findings have significant implications for the agricultural sector in Mali, and highlight the need for improved regulation and enforcement to ensure quality inputs for farmers and safety for farmers and consumers. The study's results suggest that improved post-registration monitoring and enforcement are critical to addressing the high level of unauthorized pesticides on sale in Mali.