Title: Technical efficiency of maize farmers across two agro ecological zones of Burkina Faso

Authors: Windinkonté Séogo; W. Jean-Pierre Sawadogo; Pam Zahonogo

Addresses: Centre Universitaire Polytechnique de Kaya (CUPK), Université Joseph KI-ZERBO, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso ' Université Thomas SANKARA, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso ' Université Thomas SANKARA, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

Abstract: This study analyses the technical efficiency of 881 maize farmers across two agro ecological zones of Burkina Faso: the Sudano-Sahelian zone and the Pre-Guinean zone. A stochastic meta-frontier approach is followed to deal with technology heterogeneity across zones. The results reveal that farmers in the Pre-Guinean zone are more efficient (55.38%) than those in the Sudano-Sahelian zone (54.25%). It is also observed that chemical fertilisers have a positive effect on maize production in the Pre-Guinean zone whereas in the Sudano-Sahelian zone, manure is the main fertiliser stimulating maize production. The results suggest to consider agro ecological factors in implementing agricultural policies.

Keywords: technical efficiency; stochastic meta-frontier approach; agro ecological zones; Burkina Faso.

DOI: 10.1504/AJESD.2021.118512

African Journal of Economic and Sustainable Development, 2021 Vol.8 No.4, pp.275 - 290

Received: 01 Jul 2020
Accepted: 11 Dec 2020
Published online: 27 Oct 2021 *

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