Diffusion and adoption of new rice varieties for Africa (Nerica) in the Gambia

Abstract

Rice ( Oryza sativa ) is one of the most important cereal crops cultivated in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). It is ranked as the fourth most important crop in terms of production after sorghum ( Sorghum bicolor ), maize ( Zea mays ) and millet ( Eleusine coracana ). The objective of this study was to establish adoption rates, and their determinants, of the New Rice Varieties for Africa (NERICA) in the Gambia. We used data from a stratified sample of 600 rice farmers and applied the Average Treatment Estimation (ATE) framework to establish rate of adoption and associated factors. The results revealed that NERICA adoption rate was barely 40% falling far below the expected 83%. The shortfall was due to the incomplete stakeholder exposure to NERICA in the period before 2006. The introduction of NERICA to villages was found to be a significant determinant of both exposure and adoption of NERICA varieties.Le riz ( Oryza sativa ) est l\u2019une des c\ue9r\ue9als les plus cultiv\ue9es en Afrique Sub-Saharienne. Il est la quatri\ue8me culture la plus importante en terme de production apr\ue8s le sorgho ( Sorghum bicolor ), le ma\uefs ( Zea mays ) et le millet ( Eleusine coracana ). L\u2019objectif de cette \ue9tude \ue9tait de \ue9tablir les taux d\u2019adoption et d\ue9terminants de nouvelles vari\ue9t\ue9s pour l\u2019Afrique (NERICA) en Gambie. Nous avons utilis\ue9 des donn\ue9es issues d\u2019un \ue9chantillon stratifi\ue9 de 600 riziculteurs, et le mod\ue8le d\u2019Estimation de la Moyenne de Traitements (ATE) \ue9tait appliqu\ue9 pour \ue9tablir le taux d\u2019adoption et les facteurs associ\ue9s. Les r\ue9sultats ont r\ue9v\ue9l\ue9 que le taux d\u2019adotpion du NERICA \ue9tait d\u2019environ 40% ce qui est en contraste avec le taux esp\ue9r\ue9 de 83%. Cette baisse \ue9tait due \ue0 une imparfaite pr\ue9sentation du NERICA aux partenaires avant l\u2019ann\ue9e 2006. L\u2019introduction du NERICA aux villages \ue9tait un d\ue9terminant significatif de la pr\ue9sentation et l\u2019adoption des vari\ue9t\ue9s NERICA