Reproduced from Agronomy Journal. Published by American Society of Agronomy. All copyrights reserved. RICE Agro-Economic Characterization of Rice Production in a Typical Irrigation Scheme in Burkina Faso Z. Segda,* S. M. Haefele, M. C. S. Wopereis, M. P. Sedogo, and S. Guinko ABSTRACT duction during recent years (1996–2000) was about 100 000 Mg yr -1 , with imports ranging from 105 000 to Yield, yield gaps, input use, N-use efficiency, productivity, and 240 000 Mg yr -1 (FAO, 2002). profitability of irrigated rice in Burkina Faso were determined for a typical irrigation scheme in the dry season (DS) 1999 and the wet Although the yield potentials of irrigated rice in the season (WS) 2000. Objectives were to analyze agro-economic con- Sahel are as high as 8 to 12 Mg ha -1 (Dingkuhn and straints and opportunities and determine ways to overcome such con- Sow, 1997) and best farmers regularly achieve paddy straints. The simulation model RIDEV was used to analyze farmers’ yields of 7 to 9 Mg ha -1 , various authors confirmed crop management practices, revealing considerable deviation between average yields of 3.0 to 5.5 Mg ha -1 in Sahelian irrigated actual and optimal timing of crop management interventions. This systems (e.g., Illy, 1997; Wopereis et al., 1999; Haefele diversity of cropping practices caused considerable variation of inter- et al., 2001, 2002). Average yields of irrigated rice in nal efficiency of N (IEN), partial factor productivity of N (PFPN), Burkina Faso were estimated at 4.0 to 4.5 Mg ha -1 (Illy, N recovery fraction (RFN), rice (Oryza sativa L.) grain yields, and 1997; Wopereis et al., 1999). These medium to low aver- net benefits of N-use. The results showed a clear relation between age yields threaten the economic sustainability of irri- plant N uptake and yield (mean IEN of 48 kg grain kg -1 N uptake in farmer’s fields), but the relation between N applied and yield was gated rice in the region. Low yields combined with high scattered. The PFPN varied from 16 to 52 kg grain kg -1 N applied input prices cause low profit margins, which reduce sav- (mean of 35 kg grain kg -1 N applied) due to a large range of fertilizer ings for maintenance of infrastructure and machines and N recovery rates (RFN = 7–77%; mean of 37%). Farmers’ average the return of credit debts to the bank. Burkinabe ` rice yields were 4.9 Mg ha -1 in the DS and 3.6 Mg ha -1 in the WS, but producers face competition from Asian rice imports, yields were very variable and ranged from 0.9 to 7.9 Mg ha -1 in the and price increases on the local markets cannot be ex- DS and from 1.0 to 7.9 Mg ha -1 in the WS. Yield gaps between average pected in the near future. Therefore, the economic via- farmer’s yield and best farmer’s yield were high (3.0 Mg ha -1 in the bility of the costly irrigation schemes in the Sahel can DS and 4.3 Mg ha -1 in the WS), indicating considerable scope for be questioned (Be ´ lie ` res et al., 1997). This background yield increases in both seasons. Net benefits to irrigated rice cropping demonstrates the urgent need to improve productivity were mostly positive (avg. $418 (US) ha -1 ) in the dry season, but very low in the wet season (avg. $108 (US) ha -1 ). Partial budget analysis while maintaining input costs at or close to the present of fertilizer use revealed considerably lower value/cost ratios of fertil- level. Considerable increases of investments in inputs izer use in the wet season (mean V/C: 1.5) compared with the dry are not likely due to the limited financial means of small- season (mean V/C: 2.9). It was concluded that improved crop manage- scale farmers. But crop management adjusted to the ment practices are the key to reach higher yields and financial returns local environment can contribute to improved produc- without additional investments. tivity at current input levels. Rice farmers in the Sahel have to cope with large temperature fluctuations during the year. Low tempera- R ice consumption in Burkina Faso is growing at tures at panicle initiation in the wet season and high 3% per year, especially due to increased demand temperatures around flowering during the dry season in urban centers (Randolph, 1997). Although the total may cause spikelet sterility and substantial yield losses. surface area grown to irrigated rice is relatively small Therefore, timing of sowing and the type of cultivars to (only 20% of total rice area), its contribution to mar- be used (i.e., its duration) are critical, especially if two keted national production is substantial (about 50%) rice crops per year are grown on the same field. More- and still growing (WARDA, 1996). Annual paddy pro- over, optimal timing of other crop management inter- ventions, such as weeding, fertilizer applications, and Z. Segda and M.P. Sedogo, Institut de l’Environnement et de Re- harvesting depend on crop development stages, which cherches Agricole (INERA), 04 BP 8645, Ouagadougou 04, Burkina are also influenced by temperature. Suboptimal fertility Faso; S.M. Haefele, West Africa Rice Development Association management, late transplanting, suboptimal weed man- (WARDA), BP 96 St. Louis, Senegal (current address: International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), DAPO Box 7777, Metro Manila, agement, spikelet sterility, and late harvesting have been Philippines); M.C.S. Wopereis, An International Center for Soil Fertil- identified as widespread agronomic constraints and ity and Agricultural Development (IFDC)–Africa Division, BP 4483, have an important impact on rice productivity, resource Lome ´ , Togo; and S. Guinko, Universite ´ de Ouagadougou (UO), 03 BP 7021 Ouagadougou 03, Burkina Faso. Received 12 June 2003. Abbreviations: CF, cotton fertilizer, i.e., mixed N–P–K fertilizers; CL, *Corresponding author (zacharie.segda@messrs.gov.bf/zacharie.segda@ clay loam soil; DAS, day after sowing; DAT, day after transplanting; coraf.org). DS, dry season; FCFA, Francs CFA; IEN, internal efficiency of nitro- gen; PFPN, partial factor productivity of nitrogen; RFN, recovery Published in Agron. J. 96:1314–1322 (2004).  American Society of Agronomy fraction of nitrogen; SD, standard deviation; SL, sandy loam soil; WS, wet season. 677 S. Segoe Rd., Madison, WI 53711 USA 1314