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Research Article
Technical Efficiency of Rice Producers in Mali: A Comparative Analysis of the Office Niger Zone and the Baguinéda Irrigated Perimeter Office
Issue:
Volume 10, Issue 4, August 2025
Pages:
149-157
Received:
28 March 2025
Accepted:
9 June 2025
Published:
30 June 2025
Abstract: As in most sub-Saharan African countries, agriculture is the dominant economic sector in Mali, and the potential for rice production is also high but remains largely untapped. Although achieving potential production depends on many variables, farmers in the two production areas studied are generally below the global efficiency score. The objective of this comparative study is to evaluate the productive performance of rice farmers in the Office du Niger zone compared to those in the Baguinéda Irrigated Perimeter Office. To do this, using program 4.1, we used the maximum likelihood method to estimate both the production function and the inefficiency function. The analysis of production frontiers shows that the variables Area, Seed, Fertilizer, and Herbicide have a significant effect on the level of production. As for the analysis of rice farmers' technical efficiencies, it appears that farmers in the Office du Niger and those in the Baguinéda Irrigated Perimeter Office operate at 0.79 and 0.72 of their productive capacity, respectively. Furthermore, the analysis of determinants shows that membership in a farmers' organization, ownership of equipment, main activity, technical support, and marital status are major factors in improving the efficiency of these rice farmers. There is therefore potential for increasing production without any additional inputs. The authorities responsible for rice development should therefore place particular emphasis on supplying farmers with agricultural equipment and materials, encouraging the creation of farmers' organizations, and intensifying rice production.
Abstract: As in most sub-Saharan African countries, agriculture is the dominant economic sector in Mali, and the potential for rice production is also high but remains largely untapped. Although achieving potential production depends on many variables, farmers in the two production areas studied are generally below the global efficiency score. The objective ...
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Research Article
Factors Influencing the Choice of Aflatoxin-inhibiting Technologies Among Smallholder Groundnut Farmers in Elgeyo Marakwet and Baringo Counties in Kenya
Issue:
Volume 10, Issue 4, August 2025
Pages:
158-169
Received:
2 June 2025
Accepted:
16 June 2025
Published:
7 July 2025
Abstract: Access and use of Aflatoxin-inhibiting technologies among smallholder farmers can improve their livelihoods and reduce post-harvest losses due to Aflatoxin contamination. However, the use of technologies including drying technologies, shelling, hermetic storage, resistant seeds, Aflasafe, and Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) remains low among smallholder groundnut farmers. This study assesses the factors influencing the choice of Aflatoxin-inhibiting technologies for increased production and marketability of groundnuts in farming households. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS and STATA 18. Descriptive statistics were used to examined current practices, while a multi-stage sampling approach was used to select 384 smallholder farmers from Elgeyo Marakwet and Baringo Counties in Kenya. A multivariate probit model was used to determine the factors influencing the choice of Aflatoxin inhibiting technologies. The study highlights that farmers’ decision to adopt Aflatoxin-inhibiting technologies was significantly influenced by gender, sales price, group membership, fertiliser use, household size, land size, household income, extension access, use of improved groundnut varieties and distance to market. The study provides insights into the dynamics of adoption of Aflatoxin-inhibiting technology. It underscores the need for strengthening group membership, extension service delivery and social network programs for farmer information dissemination to promote adoption and enhance agricultural productivity to improve the livelihoods of smallholder farmers in Kenya.
Abstract: Access and use of Aflatoxin-inhibiting technologies among smallholder farmers can improve their livelihoods and reduce post-harvest losses due to Aflatoxin contamination. However, the use of technologies including drying technologies, shelling, hermetic storage, resistant seeds, Aflasafe, and Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) remains low among smal...
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Research Article
Forecasting the International Market Prices for Rice, Corn and Soybeans Using ARIMA Time Series Modelling
Issue:
Volume 10, Issue 4, August 2025
Pages:
170-182
Received:
4 June 2025
Accepted:
16 June 2025
Published:
7 July 2025
Abstract: Rice, corn, and soybeans are among the most widely cultivated crops, making them crucial for global food security and the economic well-being of many countries. Like many other crops, the global prices for these commodities are prone to fluctuations due to unfavorable weather conditions, natural disasters (like flooding), global demand, and economic crises. Consequently, their prices are subject to significant changes and volatility. Forecasting and modelling these prices offer valuable insights to policymakers and local growers within the agricultural sector. While there is a plethora of studies focusing on forecasting prices based on data obtained for a specific locality, country, or region, there is a paucity of publications that take on a more global outlook for rice, corn, and soybeans. The objective of this study is to use an Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) process to model and forecast the international market prices of milled rice (5% broken), corn, and soybeans. We relied on World Bank data covering the period from 1988 to 2018 to construct several time series models. The average prices for milled rice, corn, and soybeans are $344.47, $144.48, and $334.72 (USD) per metric ton, respectively. The results of the model selection procedure indicate that the ARIMA (5,1,4), ARIMA (6,1,3), and ARIMA (6,1,1) models best fit the prices of milled rice, corn, and soybeans, respectively. Furthermore, these models offer the best in-sample and out-of-sample performances. The accuracy of the projected values, derived from the chosen models, was evaluated by calculating several metrics, including the mean absolute error (MAE), mean squared error (MSE), root mean square error (RMSE), and mean absolute percentage error (MAPE). This paper highlights the utility and applicability of the ARIMA model as a powerful tool for forecasting agricultural prices. Our modeling framework could enable governments and agribusinesses to (a) better anticipate global price fluctuations, (b) optimize trade decisions, (c) strengthen food security planning, and (d) engage in more sustainable agriculture.
Abstract: Rice, corn, and soybeans are among the most widely cultivated crops, making them crucial for global food security and the economic well-being of many countries. Like many other crops, the global prices for these commodities are prone to fluctuations due to unfavorable weather conditions, natural disasters (like flooding), global demand, and economi...
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Research Article
Kilishi, a Secular Product with a Strong Identity in the Lake Chad Region: Opportunities for Differentiated Development of a Product with High Economic Potential
Issue:
Volume 10, Issue 4, August 2025
Pages:
183-189
Received:
9 June 2025
Accepted:
23 June 2025
Published:
16 July 2025
Abstract: Kilishi, a dried meat made from strips of meat seasoned with a cocktail of ingredients, represents one of the forms of meat preservation traditionally practiced in the savannah areas of Africa. This foodstuff, highly prized for its organoleptic qualities, has a market potential estimated at 40 billion FCFA in the Lake Chad region if technological, normative and marketing improvements are made. The present work was initiated with the aim of presenting the market potential of kilishi and its variants (powder, sticks, stuffing, and aroma) in the Lake Chad region, beyond the artisanal nature of their production system and the various associated constraints. With a herd of around 80 million cattle, the Lake Chad region doesn't really benefit from the attractions of this potential in terms of value chains driven by meat and dairy processing, despite the fact that for every 1 FCFA spent on meat, the kilishi producer generates 2.5 FCFA in kilishi sales. There are around 700 kilishi producers in the countries of the Lake Chad region, and a number of scientific studies have focused on the traditional kilishi-making process, with particular emphasis on the relationship between process and product quality. For the most part, these studies are based on the technical and market constraints facing the kilishi production system, and propose directions for the development of the industry, in terms of optimizing process factors and improving product quality for markets. The study revealed that meat unwound (<5 Kg.h-1), was the major constraint of the production process and the essential component of the kilishi production know-how, which could be eliminated by laminating and reconstituting lamellae. Implementing and mastering the results of this research will lead to innovative initiatives in the creation of resilient production units and job niches. These globally mechanized, environmentally-friendly units would run entirely on solar energy, with domes and tunnels for drying, coating, grilling and packaging, improving productivity and reducing production time from 3 days to 4 hours at the height of sunshine, for a daily processing capacity of 200 kg of meat. The dome will contribute to the hygienic and organoleptic quality of the kilishi, enhancing its market value. All this justifies concrete action to facilitate the emergence of a new typology of very small enterprises.
Abstract: Kilishi, a dried meat made from strips of meat seasoned with a cocktail of ingredients, represents one of the forms of meat preservation traditionally practiced in the savannah areas of Africa. This foodstuff, highly prized for its organoleptic qualities, has a market potential estimated at 40 billion FCFA in the Lake Chad region if technological, ...
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Research Article
Influence of Agricultural Input Subsidy on Potato Yield Among Smallholder Farmers in Marakwet West Sub-county, Elgeyo Marakwet County (Kenya)
Issue:
Volume 10, Issue 4, August 2025
Pages:
190-204
Received:
19 June 2025
Accepted:
3 July 2025
Published:
24 July 2025
DOI:
10.11648/j.ijae.20251004.15
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Abstract: Agricultural input subsidy interventions are designed to make essential inputs, mainly fertilizers and seeds, more affordable and accessible to smallholder farmers, thereby enhancing agricultural productivity and household food security. However, there is currently limited empirical information on the extent to which such subsidies influence smallholder potato production in Kenya. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of fertilizer and seed subsidies on potato yields in Marakwet West Sub-County, Elgeyo Marakwet County, Kenya. A sample of 372 smallholder farmers was selected using stratified random sampling, and data was collected through a structured questionnaire. The Cobb-Douglas production function was applied to analyze the relationship between subsidized inputs and Potato productivity. Findings showed that 58% of the respondents received 537 kg of subsidized fertilizers, while 83.1% received 2,453 kg of subsidized potato seeds during the production season. Farmers who accessed both fertilizer and seed subsidies achieved significantly (P < 0.05) higher yields than those who did not benefit from subsidies or received only one input. Regression analysis indicated that the quantity of subsidized fertilizers (β = 0.679) and seeds (β = 0.481) had a strong positive influence on potato yields (R² = 0.714; P < 0.01). The study concludes that providing both fertilizer and seed subsidies substantially improves potato yields for smallholder farmers. It is therefore recommended that the relevant stakeholders continue to enhance farmers’ access to these subsidies and prioritize research on developing high-yielding, drought-and disease-resistant potato varieties to further increase production and ensure sustainable food security.
Abstract: Agricultural input subsidy interventions are designed to make essential inputs, mainly fertilizers and seeds, more affordable and accessible to smallholder farmers, thereby enhancing agricultural productivity and household food security. However, there is currently limited empirical information on the extent to which such subsidies influence smallh...
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,
George Owour
