Comparative analysis of agricultural production systems performances: case of millet and sorghum in Mali

This study was carried out to compare the performances of agricultural production systems based on millet and sorghum in Sahelian and sudano-Sahelian areas of Mali in 2014. The two systems compared were production techniques of micro-dosing fertilizer and traditional cropping called conventional cropping system of millet and sorghum. One hundred and eight farmers (108) were selected and interviewed in the two areas. The techniques of micro-dosing used were manual and mechanical fertilizers distribution. The tools used for analysis were descriptive statistics (frequency, average, standard deviation) and analytical method (ANOVA). The software’s used were EXCEL, SPSS 20 and STAGRAPHICS. The results of this survey show significant differences of mean at the plots levels. The production system based on fertilizer micro-dosing techniques is more efficient than traditional system of millet and sorghum through high yielding, lowing costs of fertilizers, diminution of farming operation work times and, high net profit at the plot level. The percent of yield obtained with manual technique is 41% and 52% with mechanical distribution (placement) for millet and respectively for sorghum 45% and 56%. The calculated cost ratio values (CRV>1) show that micro-dosing techniques are profitable for millet and sorghum production.