Linkage between and determinants of organic fertilizer and modern varieties adoption in the Sahel

In this paper, the authors analyze the linkage between and the determinants of organic fertilizer and modern varieties (MVs) adoptions in Burkina Faso. Using simultaneous recursive and endogenous switching probit models, we found a positive joint determination along with a negative endogeneity between the two technologies, indicating controlling for observable variables adoption decisions of the two technologies are positively correlated, but unobserved factors that affect one decision are negatively correlated with the other, or vice versa. After controlling for jointness and endogeneity, we found a significant positive effect of organic fertilizer application on MVs adoption. But, the two technologies are reversely affected by household head’s attending formal education and the incidence of soil fertility problem within the farm. The size of good land holding appears to have a positive effect on both adoption decisions. Other factors that significantly affect MVs adoption with positive effect are number of cashcrop grown and remittances. The study suggests that organic fertilizer can serve as enabling factor for greater adoption of MVs, especially in less favourable climate areas. In areas where farmers invest less in inorganic fertilizer because of higher climate and market risks, organic fertilizer can serve as an effective alternative to replace inorganic fertilizer in the adoption process of MVs. Policies to promote green revolution technologies in Sub-Saharan Africa could be more effective if jointly associated with the promotion of conservation agriculture technologies.