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Uptake of Improved Technologies in the Semi-Arid Tropics of West Africa: Why Is Agricultural Transformation Lagging Behind?

Author

Listed:
  • J. Ndjeunga

    (International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics, Niamey, Niger)

  • M.S.C. Bantilan

    (International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics, Patancheru, Andhra Pradesh, India)

Abstract

During the last 3 decades, donors and governments have invested in the development and dissemination of new technologies in the semi-arid tropics of West Africa. Though a wide range of improved technologies has been developed, adoption remains low without a significant impact on crop productivity, rural income and poverty. Agricultural transformation as occurred in East Asia has not yet occurred in the semi-arid tropics of West Africa. This paper uses data from a regional survey of rural households in 3 countries in West Africa (Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger) to identify the determinants of uptake of improved technologies. Limited productivity gain is found to be a major constraint to the uptake of technologies. In addition, poorly functioning institutions, lack of information or poor exposure of farmers to agricultural innovations, and poor functioning or missing markets have also hindered the uptake of many new technologies.

Suggested Citation

  • J. Ndjeunga & M.S.C. Bantilan, 2005. "Uptake of Improved Technologies in the Semi-Arid Tropics of West Africa: Why Is Agricultural Transformation Lagging Behind?," The Electronic Journal of Agricultural and Development Economics, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, vol. 2(1), pages 85-102.
    • Handle: RePEc:fao:tejade:v:2:y:2005:i:1:p:85-102
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    2. Andreas Scheba, 2017. "Conservation agriculture and sustainable development in Africa: insights from Tanzania," Natural Resources Forum, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 41(4), pages 209-219, November.
    3. Yukichi Y. & Mano Yukichi Y. & Takahashi Kazushi & Otsuka Keijiro, 2017. "Contract Farming, Farm Mechanization, and Agricultural Intensification: The Case of Rice Farming in Cote d’Ivoire," Working Papers 157, JICA Research Institute.
    4. Kelly, Valerie & Diakité, Lamissa & Teme, Bino, 2015. "Sorghum Productivity in Mali: Past, Present, and Future," Food Security International Development Working Papers 207024, Michigan State University, Department of Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics.
    5. Mamadou Sissoko & Melinda Smale & Annick Castiaux & Veronique Theriault, 2019. "Adoption of New Sorghum Varieties in Mali Through a Participatory Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(17), pages 1-15, September.
    6. O’Gorman Melanie, 2015. "Africa’s missed agricultural revolution: a quantitative study of the policy options," The B.E. Journal of Macroeconomics, De Gruyter, vol. 15(2), pages 561-602, July.
    7. Mukasa, Adamon N., 2018. "Technology adoption and risk exposure among smallholder farmers: Panel data evidence from Tanzania and Uganda," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 105(C), pages 299-309.
    8. Keijiro OTSUKA & Kaliappa P. KALIRAJAN, 2006. "Rice Green Revolution In Asia And Its Transferability To Africa: An Introduction," The Developing Economies, Institute of Developing Economies, vol. 44(2), pages 107-122, June.
    9. Arraiz, Irani & Calero, Carla & Jon, Songqing & Peralta, Alexandra, 2015. "Planting the seeds: The impact of training on mando producers in Haiti," 2015 Conference, August 9-14, 2015, Milan, Italy 212622, International Association of Agricultural Economists.
    10. Mukasa Adamon N., 2016. "Working Paper 233 - Technology Adoption and Risk Exposure among Smallholder Farmers: Panel Data Evidence from Tanzania and Uganda," Working Paper Series 2328, African Development Bank.
    11. Totin, Edmond & van Mierlo, Barbara & Klerkx, Laurens, 2020. "Scaling practices within agricultural innovation platforms: Between pushing and pulling," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 179(C).
    12. Edmond Totin & Alcade C. Segnon & Marc Schut & Hippolyte Affognon & Robert B. Zougmoré & Todd Rosenstock & Philip K. Thornton, 2018. "Institutional Perspectives of Climate-Smart Agriculture: A Systematic Literature Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(6), pages 1-20, June.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    institutions; technology; markets; road infrastructure; information; agricultural productivity.;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • Q10 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Agriculture - - - General
    • Q16 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Agriculture - - - R&D; Agricultural Technology; Biofuels; Agricultural Extension Services

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