Intensification of Sahelian farming systems: evidence from Niger

Abstract

The general objective of this study was to trace the intensification process on sandy soils in the Birni N'Konni area of south central Niger and to identify the role of traditional and modern inputs. The primary hypothesis is that farmers intensify first using traditional inputs, such as traditional varieties, labor and manure, and turn to modern inputs, like inorganic fertilizer, improved varieties and pesticides, only when they have exhausted the potential of their traditional methods. The main reason hypothesized for the initial use of traditional inputs is their low capital requirement. The methodology uses a representative farm linear programming model with solutions at various land, labor and capital levels. The results indicate that intensification is a continuum, starting from traditional low plant density, extensive farming to using higher planting density and manure, and eventually to inorganic fertilizer, improved seed and pesticide. One implication of this research is that extension and development efforts should start with intensification of traditional inputs, instead of promoting use of modern inputs as the first step in intensification.