Crops cultivated are millet, rice, sorghum, corn, sugarcane and mangoes. Cotton is grown for export. Livestock rearing is an important sector of the economy and provides profitable exports for Mali. The Niger and Senegal Rivers are also important food sources because of their fish stocks. Gold is another export and other minerals mined are iron ore, uranium, zinc, phosphates, salt and diamonds.
Manufacturing industries are relatively small and underdeveloped in Mali.
Food processing and cotton ginning are the most significant industrial activities. Local crafts include carpets and jewellery and help to earn tourist revenues. In the 1970s Mali set up a national tourist organization. As the tourism industry develops it is hoped that it will prove a substantial earner of foreign currency. THE ARTS African art has a history as long as that of European and Asian art.