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Economic Efficiency of Sorghum Microfertilizing in Smallholder Farms in the North-Sudanian Zone of Burkina Faso

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Improving the Profitability, Sustainability and Efficiency of Nutrients Through Site Specific Fertilizer Recommendations in West Africa Agro-Ecosystems

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Abstract

The mineral fertilizer microdosing (MD) technique was disseminated in the North-Sudanian zone of Burkina Faso for 3 years, using various extension tools. This study aimed to analyze the economic efficiency as well as farmers’ perception of the use of MD technique. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected from 60 demonstration plots conducted by innovative farmers and from 300 households, using an interview guide during the focus groups. The results of the demonstration trials showed that this innovation significantly increased (P˂0.05) sorghum productivity compared to farmer’s practice. It even tripled sorghum yields when combined with soil and water conservation (SWC) techniques, and the use of improved seed varieties. It also led to the efficient use of production capital with cost-benefit ratios ranging from 1.3 to 6.9 depending on the sorghum germplasm and its combined use with SWC techniques. Farmers acknowledged the positive effects of MD technique on their socio-economic well-being through higher incomes from sorghum production and improved food availability. These results challenged policy makers to trigger actions aiming at promoting large-scale adoption of MD technique for sustainable local development.

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Acknowledgements

This study was made possible thanks to the financial support of the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and the International Development Research Centre (IDRC); and through the collaboration of researchers from the University of Parakou (Benin); Institut de l’Economie Rurale (Mali); Institut National de Recherche Agronomique (Niger); the University of Saskatchewan (Canada) and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (Kenya). May they find in this work the reward for their efforts.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut de l’Environnement et de Recherches Agricoles (INERA), Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

    A. Traoré, B. Ouattara & F. Lompo

  2. International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC), Accra, Ghana

    Andre Bationo

  3. Institut de l’Environnement et de Recherches Agricoles (INERA), Fada N’Gourma, Burkina Faso

    H. Sigué

Authors
  1. A. Traoré
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  2. B. Ouattara
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  3. H. Sigué
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  4. F. Lompo
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  5. Andre Bationo
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to B. Ouattara .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. IFDC, Accra, Ghana

    Andre Bationo

  2. Cultivating New Frontiers in Agriculture, Conakry, Guinea

    Djimasbé Ngaradoum

  3. IFDC-Ouaga, Ouagadougou 11, Burkina Faso

    Sansan Youl

  4. INERA, Ouagadougou 4, Burkina Faso

    Francois Lompo

  5. Soil Research Institute, CSIR Soil Research Institute, Kumasi, Ghana

    Joseph Opoku Fening

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Traoré, A., Ouattara, B., Sigué, H., Lompo, F., Bationo, A. (2018). Economic Efficiency of Sorghum Microfertilizing in Smallholder Farms in the North-Sudanian Zone of Burkina Faso. In: Bationo, A., Ngaradoum, D., Youl, S., Lompo, F., Fening, J. (eds) Improving the Profitability, Sustainability and Efficiency of Nutrients Through Site Specific Fertilizer Recommendations in West Africa Agro-Ecosystems. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-58789-9_15

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