Title: The impact of the fertiliser subsidy program on maize yield in rural Burkina Faso: do agro-ecological zones matter?

Authors: Windinkonté Séogo; Windbeneti Arnaud Zahonogo

Addresses: Centre Universitaire de Kaya (CUK), Université Joseph KI-ZERBO, 03 BP 7164, Ouagadougou 03, Burkina Faso ' Laboratoire d'Économie d'Orléans, Université d'Orléans, France

Abstract: There is substantial empirical evidence that input subsidy programs have a significant impact on agricultural productivity in Africa. However, the association between agro-ecological conditions and the magnitude of the impact of these public interventions remains unknown. This study takes into account differences in agro-ecological conditions to assess the impact of the fertiliser subsidy program on maize yield in Burkina Faso. By relying on an endogenous switching regression and using a nationally representative household data collected by the ministry of agriculture in 2012, we find that the fertiliser subsidy increases maize yield by about 222.82 kg/ha. Furthermore, the impact of the program is found to be largely higher in the Sudanian zone (267.88 kg/ha) than in the Sudano-Sahelian zone (151.00 kg/ha). To accelerate agricultural growth for poverty reduction in rural Burkina Faso, our findings suggest policy makers to adjust this policy regarding agro-ecological zones for more effectiveness.

Keywords: fertiliser subsidy program; maize productivity; agro-ecological zones; Burkina Faso.

DOI: 10.1504/AJESD.2025.149256

African Journal of Economic and Sustainable Development, 2025 Vol.10 No.3, pp.263 - 283

Received: 08 Jun 2024
Accepted: 02 Jul 2025
Published online: 20 Oct 2025 *

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