Abstract:
Rice is considered a strategic product in Mali because of its importance for food security but also
for the country's economic development given its preponderant place in production, agricultural
employment and income generation for farmers. Rice is the most widely grown and consumed
cereal in the Gao region. It is practiced by the majority of farmers in a traditional way (in free
submersion, flood recession rice cultivation and pond cultivation) and modern in hydroagricultural development (controlled submersion and total water control). Despite the enormous
potential for planting, rice production is declining year after year in the Gao region. The
objective of this study is to understand the mechanisms of the adoption of high-performance and
climate-resilient varieties and to analyze the determinants of variety adoption at the family farm
level. This study was conducted in the Gao region among 253 farmers with a margin of error of
6%. The methodology used integrated qualitative and quantitative research approaches. Data
were collected individually and in focus groups by way of interview, using pre-established semistructured questionnaires and interview guides. Data were collected from rice farmers and
technical services. Several approaches were combined to conduct this study. The Tobit simple,
Logit, and Probit models were used for adoption and analysis of determinants of variety
adoption. The study found that the adoption of short-cycle varieties is the most prevalent resilient
practice among producers, at 47%. This practice is more used in controlled submersion. It is
followed by the use of local varieties by 30% of producers. However, improved varieties are
only adopted by 7% of growers, suggesting that they are not widely accepted. Area and subsidy
are the main determinants of the adoption of resilient rice varieties with a portability of less than
1% (P?0.002). |
