Déterminants de la productivité rizicole selon les catégories d’exploitations dans la zone Office du Niger (Mali)

This study analyzes the determinants of rice productivity across farm size categories in the Office du Niger (ON) irrigation scheme using a stratified sample of 105 farms distributed across seven production zones. A mixed-methods approach combining individual surveys, focus group discussions, and econometric analysis was employed. An augmented Cobb–Douglas production function and a stochastic frontier analysis (SFA) were estimated to identify the technical and socioeconomic factors influencing rice production and to assess farms’ technical efficiency. The results reveal strong structural heterogeneity, characterized by the predominance of small farms (53%), which face high land pressure, labor overutilization, and decreasing returns to scale. Seeds and mineral fertilizers contribute positively and significantly to rice production, while labor exhibits a significant negative effect. The SFA results indicate that 76% of deviations from the production frontier are attributable to technical inefficiency, which is strongly influenced by farmers’ education level, age, and household size. These findings highlight the need for differentiated policy interventions focusing on land tenure security, technical intensification, appropriate mechanization, and capacity building for rice farmers.
Keywords: Rice productivity-Technical inefficiency-Stochastic frontier analysis-Office du Niger-Mali.