Ranking What Matters: A Best-Worst Scaling Analysis of Rice Productivity Constraints in Madagascar’s Rice Basket

Understanding which constraints most limit agricultural productivity requires evidence grounded in farmer priorities. This study uses Best–Worst Scaling (BWS) to rank perceived constraints to rice productivity among smallholder farmers in Madagascar. Survey data were collected from 408 rice-producing households in the Alaotra-Mangoro region. Farmers evaluated ten commonly cited constraints through repeated best-worst choice questions. Preferences were analyzed using a Random Parameters Logit model to estimate relative importance and capture heterogeneity. The results show a highly concentrated ranking of constraints. Climate risk is the most important perceived limitation by a wide margin. Irrigation ranks second, followed by fertilization. All remaining constraints account for only a small share of total preference importance. Subsample analyses by yield level, poverty status, and irrigation source show stable rankings but some variation in the strength of preferences across groups. These findings suggest that existing policy priorities emphasizing production practices, post-harvest losses, and market access may not fully align with farmer-identified constraints. By providing a clear hierarchy of perceived productivity barriers, this study offers farmer-centered evidence to inform more sustainable rice policies in Madagascar, with particular emphasis on climate risk and water management.