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Taking from cotton to grow maize: The shifting practices of small-holder farmers in the cotton belt of Mali

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  • Laris, Paul
  • Foltz, Jeremy D.
  • Voorhees, Briton

Abstract

Cotton yields in Mali have fallen during the past 15 years while maize yields have risen. The objective of this study is to examine key changes in the agricultural system to understand how these changes might have influenced the production of these key crops. In particular, this study seeks to understand the causes of the drop in cotton yields in southern Mali and to question the hypotheses that rapid extensification of agriculture or soil fertility loss caused the decline. The study puts forth an alternative hypothesis that fertilizer shifting – whereby farmers apply fertilizers designated for cotton to grain crops – was an important and under-recognized factor in the decline in cotton and simultaneous rise in grain yields.

Suggested Citation

  • Laris, Paul & Foltz, Jeremy D. & Voorhees, Briton, 2015. "Taking from cotton to grow maize: The shifting practices of small-holder farmers in the cotton belt of Mali," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 133(C), pages 1-13.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:agisys:v:133:y:2015:i:c:p:1-13
    DOI: 10.1016/j.agsy.2014.10.010
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Baquedano, Felix G. & Sanders, John H. & Vitale, Jeffrey, 2010. "Increasing incomes of Malian cotton farmers: Is elimination of US subsidies the only solution?," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 103(7), pages 418-432, September.
    2. Smale, Melinda & Byerlee, Derek & Jayne, Thom S., 2011. "Maize Revolutions in Sub-Saharan Africa," Working Papers 202592, Egerton University, Tegemeo Institute of Agricultural Policy and Development.
    3. Baffes, John, 2007. "Distortions to Cotton Sector Incentives in West and Central Africa," Agricultural Distortions Working Paper Series 48526, World Bank.
    4. Jeremy Foltz & Ursula Aldana & Paul Laris, 2014. "The Sahel's Silent Maize Revolution: Analyzing Maize Productivity in Mali at the Farm Level," NBER Chapters, in: African Successes, Volume IV: Sustainable Growth, pages 111-136, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    5. Coulibaly, Jeanne Y. & Sanders, John H. & Preckel, Paul V. & Baker, Timothy G., 2011. "Cotton Price Policy and New Cereal Technology in the Malian Cotton Zone," 2011 Annual Meeting, July 24-26, 2011, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 103755, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    6. Tappan, Gray & McGahuey, Michael, 2007. "Tracking environmental dynamics and agricultural intensification in southern Mali," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 94(1), pages 38-51, April.
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    Cited by:

    1. Kelly, Valerie & Diakité, Lamissa & Teme, Bino, 2015. "Sorghum Productivity in Mali: Past, Present, and Future," Food Security International Development Working Papers 207024, Michigan State University, Department of Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics.
    2. Giller, Ken E. & Andersson, Jens & Delaune, Thomas & Silva, João Vasco & Descheemaeker, Katrien & van de Ven, Gerrie & Schut, Antonius G.T. & van Wijk, Mark & Hammond, Jim & Hochman, Zvi & Taulya, God, 2022. "IFAD Research Series 83: The future of farming: who will produce our food?," IFAD Research Series 322005, International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).
    3. Hu, Yun-fei & You, Fei & Luo, Qi-you, 2018. "Characterizing the attitudes of the grain-planting farmers of Huaihe Basin, China," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 79(C), pages 224-234.
    4. Dzanku, F.M. & Osei, R.D., 2018. "Impact of pre– and post-harvest training reminders on crop losses and food poverty in Mali," 2018 Conference, July 28-August 2, 2018, Vancouver, British Columbia 275924, International Association of Agricultural Economists.
    5. Huet, E.K. & Adam, M. & Giller, K.E. & Descheemaeker, K., 2020. "Diversity in perception and management of farming risks in southern Mali," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 184(C).
    6. Louie Rivers III & Udita Sanga & Amadou Sidibe & Alexa Wood & Rajiv Paudel & Sandra T. Marquart-Pyatt & Arika Ligmann-Zielinska & Laura Schmitt Olabisi & Eric Jing Du & Saweda Liverpool-Tasie, 2018. "Mental models of food security in rural Mali," Environment Systems and Decisions, Springer, vol. 38(1), pages 33-51, March.
    7. Tim Ölkers & Oliver Mußhoff, 2024. "Exploring the role of interest rates, macroeconomic environment, agricultural cycle, and gender on loan demand in the agricultural sector: Evidence from Mali," Agribusiness, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 40(2), pages 484-512, April.
    8. Smale, Melinda & Kergna, Alpha O. & Theriault, Veronique & Assima, Amidou & Keita, Naman, 2016. "Gender, generation and cereal crop intensification in Mali," 2016 Annual Meeting, July 31-August 2, Boston, Massachusetts 235544, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    9. Fred Mawunyo Dzanku & Robert Osei & Isaac Osei‐Akoto, 2021. "The impact of mobile phone voice message reminders on agricultural outcomes in Mali," Agricultural Economics, International Association of Agricultural Economists, vol. 52(5), pages 789-806, September.
    10. Smale, Melinda & Kergna, Alpha & Thériault, Véronique & Assima, Amidou & Keita, Naman, 2016. "Gender, Generation And Agricultural Intensification: A Case Of Two Cereals In The Sudanian Savanna Of Mali," Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Food Security Policy Research Papers 259505, Michigan State University, Department of Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics, Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Food Security (FSP).
    11. Ken E. Giller & Thomas Delaune & João Vasco Silva & Katrien Descheemaeker & Gerrie Ven & Antonius G.T. Schut & Mark Wijk & James Hammond & Zvi Hochman & Godfrey Taulya & Regis Chikowo & Sudha Narayana, 2021. "The future of farming: Who will produce our food?," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 13(5), pages 1073-1099, October.
    12. Arouna Dissa & Jos Bijman & Maja Slingerland & Ousmane Mama Sanogo & Ken E Giller & Katrien Descheemaeker, 2022. "Growing cotton to produce food: Unravelling interactions between value chains in southern Mali," Development Policy Review, Overseas Development Institute, vol. 40(5), September.
    13. Smale, Melinda & Theriault,Véronique & Haider, Hamza, 2017. "Intrahousehold Efficiency Of Fertilizer Use On Dryland Cereals In Mali," Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Food Security Policy Research Papers 261672, Michigan State University, Department of Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics, Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Food Security (FSP).
    14. Ollenburger, Mary H. & Descheemaeker, Katrien & Crane, Todd A. & Sanogo, Ousmane M. & Giller, Ken E., 2016. "Waking the Sleeping Giant: Agricultural intensification, extensification or stagnation in Mali's Guinea Savannah," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 148(C), pages 58-70.

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