AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH IMPACT ASSESSMENT; THE CASE OF MAIZE TECHNOLOGY ADOPTION IN SOUTHERN MALI

Duncan H. Boughton () and Bruno Henry de Frahan

No 11428, Food Security III Papers from Michigan State University, Department of Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics

Abstract: Adoption of the improved maize package was particularly rapid during the period 1980-86 when an attractive guaranteed price was offered and extension activities were reinforced by a maize project that included the establishment of a seed multiplication program. Following cereal market price liberalization in 1986, maize prices fell and have been subject to considerable variability. Area has continued to expand, but farmers have greatly reduced fertilizer use, switched back to maize-late millet intercropping, and substituted early maturing varieties better suited to their own food security needs. The estimated internal rate of return (IRR) to investment in maize research and extension in southern Mali over the period 1969-90 is 135%. This high rate can be attributed to low research costs, and the high economic value of maize as an import substitute. Sensitivity analysis indicates that the IRR is robust with respect to adverse changes in assumptions concerning overvaluation of the exchange rate, research costs, extension costs, and area of improved maize. It is moderately sensitive to price and yield reductions. The high IRR achieved in the past to a focussed, integrated maize technology delivery system is not necessarily a guide to future returns. Market opportunities beyond assuring food security during the "hungry season" are limited due to the lack of low-cost processing technologies.

Keywords: Crop Production/Industries; Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 1994
View list of references View citations in EconPapers

Downloads: (external link)
http://purl.umn.edu/11428 (application/pdf)

Related works:
Working Paper: Agricultural Research Impact Assessment: The Case of Maize Technology Adoption in Southern Mali (1994)
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: http://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ags:midafs:11428

Access Statistics for this paper

More papers in Food Security III Papers from Michigan State University, Department of Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics
Contact information at EDIRC.
Series data maintained by AgEcon Search ().