Mineral fertilisation by microdose: Incentives for widespread adoption in Burkina Faso

Abstract

Mineral fertilisation by microdosing has been tested in Burkina Faso since 2000 to increase the agricultural productivity of small farmers. In order to identify the determinants of its adoption, data were collected from a random sample of 180 women and 440 men in the provinces of Zondoma and Kourittenga in Burkina Faso; where the innovation was disseminated. The results of the Logit model showed that the determinants of adoption varied according to gender and production area. In Kourittenga, warrantage (inventory credit system) system determined the choice by women, whereas that by men depended on warrantage and dissemination tools. In Zondoma, in addition to access to information on mineral fertilisation by microdosing on which the choices of each type of farmer were dependent, education level and belonging to a farmer organisation determined the choice of men and women, respectively. These results challenged policy decision makers to strengthen socio-economic and institutional capacities for effective adoption of mineral fertilisation microdosing technique in order to sustainably improve the food situation of Sahelian small farmers.

Key words: Gender, semi-arid, women