Diffusion des variétés de sorgho et l’Impact Economique Potentiel des Hybrides de Sorgho en zone Soudanienne du Mali

Kergna, Melinda Smale, Amidou Assima, and Naman Keïta. The study was conducted in 2015 and aimed to assess the effectiveness of sorgho hybrids in improving crop yields and economic outcomes for farmers in the region. The researchers collected data on the sources of seed provision, the percentage of sorgho variety introducers by sex, and the mode of seed acquisition. The results showed that 67.93% of farmers produced their own seeds, while 3.8% obtained seeds from cooperatives and associations. The majority of farmers (73.56%) acquired seeds from markets or boutiques, and 21.2% obtained seeds from other producers. The study also found that 88.43% of farmers introduced sorgho varieties, with 89.96% of these being improved varieties. The majority of farmers (92.24%) introduced hybrid sorgho varieties. The researchers also collected data on the mode of seed acquisition, which showed that 60.89% of farmers acquired seeds through purchase, while 21.17% obtained seeds through exchange. The study highlighted the potential economic benefits of sorgho hybrids, which were found to have a 45% yield advantage over the best local varieties in different zones and without fertilizers. The researchers also noted that the study updated the findings of Yapi et al. (2000) and compared the modes of selection for sorgho hybrids. The study's results on the adoption of sorgho hybrids showed that the percentage of farmers adopting hybrids increased from 1.14% in 2009 to 2.28% in 2013. The researchers also found that the adoption of improved sorgho varieties increased from 18.7% in 2009 to 22.0% in 2013. The preliminary results of the economic impacts of sorgho hybrids showed that the value of the net present value (NPV) ranged from -4.9 to 253, with a mode of 14 and a standard deviation of 20.9. The researchers also found that the surplus economic total was influenced by various parameters, including the distribution of the probability of the net present value. The study's implications for policy highlighted the need to continue investing in the development of a decentralized system for the diffusion of adapted varieties, as well as the strengthening of the commercialization and valorization of surplus production. The researchers also emphasized the importance of ensuring the sustainability of productivity by considering soil fertility management.