Profit analysis of maize certified seed production in Mali: Case study of the commune of Kolokani

Maize is a strategic crop for most West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) countries. As a staple food for humans, it is also used for poultry feed, which has a very high demand. Maize is the second most important cereal crop, after rice in terms of production in Mali. Domestic production rose from 50,000 tons in 1980 to more than 2,275,000 tons in 2015, according to statistics from the National Directorate of Agriculture (DNA). The achievement of food and nutrition security and the fight against poverty, that are the main objectives that the Malian authorities through the agricultural development policy and the strategic framework for growth and poverty reduction, rely in part on the intensification of agricultural production. It is in fact to produce more per unit area to reduce the extension of cultivated areas and preserve natural resources for future generations. In this context, the large-scale use of quality seeds of improved varieties adapted to agro-ecological conditions and meeting the needs of producers is of high importance. In the context of the fight against poverty and the increase of the income of the population of the study area, the present study analyzed the financial profitability of maize certified seed production in the targeted area. It was conducted with a sample of 24 producers for the collection of primary data. Secondary data were collected through literature reviews. The overall results of our study allowed us to establish that 58% of our sample did not attend school and the sample population has an average age of 47 years. Men were the majority with 88% and 92% of the sample married. The results also showed that a certified seed producer earned an average of 236,775 FCFA / cycle (approximately US $ 395) as net income (profit) with a yield of 1,543 kg / ha at a selling price of 500 FCFA in average with a break-even point of 1069 kg. But the producers were confronted with several problems which included, among others: the small quantity and the poor distribution of the rains; difficult access to markets due to road degradation; lack of customers for the purchase of the product; difficulty in having basic seeds, etc. For better profitability it is necessary to promote access to quality agricultural inputs on time; to put in place appropriate storage facilities for good conservation; and to facilitate market access and build the capacity of producers (producer training).