Effect of the Ecology of Rice-growing system on Rice Farmers Technical Efficiency: a case study in Western Burkina Faso

Abstract

The Government of Burkina Faso has, since several decades, made efforts to developpe plains and lowlands in order to increase rice production. However, the ecology of rice-growing system on which rice production is technically more efficient is not yet well-known. Optimal use of resources by farmers is an essential element for rice production increase. The objective of this study was to assess the technical efficiency of two groups of rice farmers in western Burkina Faso, one farming on irrigated plain and the other farming on developed lowland. Cobb-Douglas stochastic frontier production function is used for the empirical estimations. Cross-sectional data were collected from 60 rice farmers, 30 on each ecology of rice-growing, using a structured questionnaire survey method. Data were related to the 2017/2018 rainy season agricultural year. The results showed that rice farmers on irrigated plain are technically more efficient than those who are farming on developed lowland. In addition, the mean frontier output of rice production on plain is significantly greater than that on developed lowland. These results suggest that the Government should prioritize developed lowland, where there is a great potential to increase rice production, in agricultural development policy for food sovereignty and poverty reduction in rural areas.

Keywords: Rice-growing system, Technical efficiency, Stochastic frontier analysis, Farmers, Burkina Faso

DOI: 10.7176/JESD/16-1-02

Publication date: January 30th 2025