Influence of agricultural technologies and practices on maize cropping system amongst small-scale farmers in Southern Mali

Small-scale farmers in Southern Mali who are mainly maize producers are facing many challenges in the uptake and accurate application of agricultural technologies. Maize production constitutes a significant opportunity for these farmers to ensure food security and adequate nutritional status and to reduce extreme poverty in rural areas. The expansion of land area under this staple crop is still increasing but the output of its production remains low. These constraints may be attributed to the particular maize varieties grown and climate variability coupled with declining soil fertility. The objective of this study was to contribute to understanding the uptake of modern agricultural technologies under the maize cropping system in Southern Mali. The study was carried out in three selected villages each located in a different agroecological zone in Southern Mali. A multistage sampling technique procedure was applied to obtain a sample size of 134 maize producers who were selected randomly. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect cross-sectional data from those selected maize producers. Descriptive statistics were used for data analysis. The results indicated that improved maize varieties, applying organic manure under land size allocated for maize, plough plus hand sowing, and plough plus sowing were practiced by 36%, 41%, 73%, and 34% of farmers, respectively. The share of maize cropping was 39%, 41%, and 62% in Beguene, Ziguena, and Nafegue, respectively. Grain yield of maize was around 1668 kg ha-1 in Beguene, 1807 kg ha-1 in Nafegue and 2114 kg ha-1 in Ziguena. Policy intervention should be based on the dissemination of agricultural technology practices and enabling access to suitable agricultural equipment. Strengthening farmers’ skills through training on good agricultural practices will enhance maize productivity and improvement of livelihood of small-scale farmers. Key word: Agricultural technology, maize, production, Southern Mali