Abstract
Irrigated rice farming in the Senegal River Valley is known to be highly productive, as indicated by the average yield of nearly 5 tons per ha, and the extensive adoption of modern seed-fertilizer technology . This study seeks to understand why rice farming is so productive in this region; analyzing this situation from the viewpoint of the management efficiency of large versus small scale irrigation schemes. Contrary to popular belief, the study found that farmers in large-scale irrigation schemes achieve significantly higher yields and profits than those in small-scale irrigation schemes.
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Notes
- 1.
In the case of the Senegal River Valley- ->, the study by Diagne et al. (2013a, b), who analyze the determinants of rice production efficiency based on 5 year panel data obtained from about 100 households, may be exceptional. A dummy for large-scale irrigation- -> schemes was used in this study as one of the variables to explain the residual from the translog production function- ->, but had insignificant impact on this residual. But since their focus is not on scheme size, they do not discuss this result at all in their paper.
- 2.
An example of a Mauritania side study is Comas et al. (2012).
- 3.
SAED (Société Nationale d’Exploitation des Terres du Delta du Fleuve Sénégal et des Vallées Sénégal et de la Falémé) is a parastatal agency specializing in the development of irrigation schemes in the Senegal River Valley- ->.
- 4.
The average size of large-scale irrigation- -> schemes is 761 ha, and that of small-scale irrigation- -> schemes is 27 ha, according to the author’s calculation based on SAED (2011). In the Senegal River Valley- ->, the large-scale irrigation schemes are called GA (Grand Aménagement) or AI (Aménagement Intermédiaire), depending on scheme size. The total area of GAs is above 1,000 ha and that of AIs is less than 1,000 ha. Thus, large-scale irrigation schemes in this paper include both large and medium scales according to SAED’s classification. On the other hand, the small-scale irrigation schemes are called PIV (Périmètre Irrigué Villageois), since they are managed by villagers.
- 5.
Private irrigation schemes are called PIP (Périmètre Irrigué Privé) in the Senegal River Valley- ->.
- 6.
In management terms, this is a case of irrigation management transfer (IMT), as documented by Garces-Restrepo et al. (2007). Our study, however, is not concerned with such transfers since they had been completed by the time of survey, and all the irrigation schemes are managed by farmers regardless of scheme size.
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Sakurai, T. (2016). On the Determinants of High Productivity in Rice Farming in Irrigated Areas in Senegal: Efficiency of Large-Scale vs. Small-Scale Irrigation Schemes. In: Otsuka, K., Larson, D. (eds) In Pursuit of an African Green Revolution. Natural Resource Management and Policy, vol 48. Springer, Tokyo. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-4-431-55693-0_6
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