IMPROVED SYSTEMS OF RICE FARMING IN ZAIRE: A COMPARISON OF UPLAND AND IRRIGATED RICE

Cassava, maize, rice, groundnuts and plantains constitute the main food crops in Zaire. Rice is a staple food in several regions though its consumption has thus been concentrated in the urban centers. The Department of Agriculture had estimated that rice consumption increased at an annual rate of 2.1 percent for the 1971-74 period and it has also predicted that this rate may reach 9.1 percent by the end of the decade. One of Zaire's key problems is to meet its domestic demand for rice. The government policy of fixing annual hectarage targets for rice and other crops to be achieved through the opening of new land and through exhorting farmers to grow more rice has not succeeded in closing the gap between supply and demand. The focus now is on development programs to increase the commercial production of rice, maize and other major crops. As is the case for most food crops, there is an urgent need for micro-economic research at the farm level to help guide policy makers in increasing rice production. A generalized introduction of fertilizer and high yielding seeds at the small farm level, the adoption of a mechanical technology and the diffusion of irrigated rice system constitute major elements of improved systems of rice farming being presently contemplated in Zaire. In contrast with the agriculture of some West African countries, fertilizer diffusion has not yet reached the vast majority of small holders in various regions of Zaire although they have some use of improved seeds. This paper will first attempt to evaluate the impact of a fertilizer adoption at the small farm level in traditional upland rice farming in the forest zone and later deal with a comparative analysis of an improved upland rice and an irrigated rice farming systems in savannah area where both the objective of increasing rice output and the farmer's revenue are contemplated

IMPROVED SYSTEMS OF RICE FARMING IN ZAIRE: A COMPARISON OF UPLAND AND IRRIGATED RICE

Cassava, maize, rice, groundnuts and plantains constitute the main food crops in Zaire. Rice is a staple food in several regions though its consumption has thus been concentrated in the urban centers. The Department of Agriculture had estimated that rice consumption increased at an annual rate of 2.1 percent for the 1971-74 period and it has also predicted that this rate may reach 9.1 percent by the end of the decade. One of Zaire's key problems is to meet its domestic demand for rice. The government policy of fixing annual hectarage targets for rice and other crops to be achieved through the opening of new land and through exhorting farmers to grow more rice has not succeeded in closing the gap between supply and demand. The focus now is on development programs to increase the commercial production of rice, maize and other major crops. As is the case for most food crops, there is an urgent need for micro-economic research at the farm level to help guide policy makers in increasing rice production. A generalized introduction of fertilizer and high yielding seeds at the small farm level, the adoption of a mechanical technology and the diffusion of irrigated rice system constitute major elements of improved systems of rice farming being presently contemplated in Zaire. In contrast with the agriculture of some West African countries, fertilizer diffusion has not yet reached the vast majority of small holders in various regions of Zaire although they have some use of improved seeds. This paper will first attempt to evaluate the impact of a fertilizer adoption at the small farm level in traditional upland rice farming in the forest zone and later deal with a comparative analysis of an improved upland rice and an irrigated rice farming systems in savannah area where both the objective of increasing rice output and the farmer's revenue are contemplated.Crop Production/Industries,

Déterminants des recours thérapeutiques et prise en charge du bétail dans l'ouest du Burkina Faso

This paper analyzes the strategies of farmers in Kénédougou province to tackle African Animal Trypanosomosis (AAT). Using economic, entomological, and parasitological data collected by multidisciplinary team, we operate a binary Logit model to evaluate the probability of choice between animal health professionals and non professionals. The results show that economic and environmental variables contribute jointly to explain the choice between professional and non professional. The prevalence of trypanosomosis, and farm size affect positively the choice of farmers. However, farmers in crop production systems and producers who are far from the location of animal health professionals are slightly willing to choose their services for AAT control. Animal development policy should pay attention to physically and economic access to trypanocides in order to mitigate the impact of AAT on the productivity of farms.trypanomosis, trypanocide, farm, logit model

Determinants of Therapeutic Choices and Cattle Health Management in Western Burkina Faso

This paper analyses the strategies of farmers in the Kénédougou province to control African Animal Trypanosomosis (AAT). Using economic, entomological, and parasitological data collected by a multidisciplinary team, we operated a binary Logit model to evaluate the probability of choice between animal health professionals and non-professionals. The results show that economic and environmental variables contributed jointly to explain the choice between professionals and non-professionals in the study area. The prevalence of trypanosomosis, and farm size affect positively and significantly the choice of farmers to use an animal health professional. However, farmers in crop production systems, and distance both negatively affect the willingness to use the services of an animal health professional. Pastoral development policies should pay attention to improving economic and geographical access to veterinary drugs in order to mitigate the impact of AAT on the productivity of farms. JEL Classification: D01, D21trypanosomosis, trypanocide, farm, logit model

Synthèse de trois années de suivi pluridisciplinaire de l'élevage bovin en pays Lobi Burkinabe. Etude de 1991 à 1993

Le suivi zootechnique et sanitaire réalisé durant trois ans s'est avéré être une méthode précieuse de collecte de l'information et de diagnostic des systèmes d'élevage bovin en Pays Lobi burkinabé. L'animal baoulé, réputé pour sa trypanotolérance, y présente des performances zootechniques inférieures à celles de l'animal zébu ou métissé. Parmi les axes zootechniques qui paraissent prioritaires, l'âge à la première mise-bas et l'intervalle entre deux vêlages ont été identifiés. La mortalité très élevée des veaux jusqu'à l'âge de un an est un problème complexe, qui affecte l'ensemble des troupeau