Mali is the second largest producer of cotton in Africa. Although pesticide use in the agricultural sector is increasing, very little information is available regarding pesticide usage and contamination of water and soils resulting from their use in Mali. A study to assess pesticides use by farmers and to determine pesticides residues in soils and water were conducted and the results provide information which may be useful in improving pest control technology and minimizing environmental effects. The results of a farmer survey and the findings of pesticide soil and water analyses will be presented.