Centre universitaire de Tenkodogo, Laboratoire Sols, Matériaux and Environnement (SME) de l’Unité de Formation et de Recherche-Sciences de la vie et de la terre de l’Université Joseph Ki-ZERBO, Université Thomas SANKARA, 12 BP 417 Ouagadougou 12, Burkina Faso
In maize-producing farms in the Sudanian and Sudano-Sahelian zones of Burkina Faso, the factors that guide the choice of peasant practices are linked to the type of maize field and the socio-economic conditions of farmers. The study conducted in 2020 aimed to identify the determinants and socio-economic logics of the choice of peasant practices in maize-producing farms. Data were collected from 100 farm heads in four (4) villages: Ouroubonon, Dio, Waly and Sangoulema. Stratified sampling made it possible to randomly select maize farms regardless of their number in the villages concerned. Variables of socio-economic characteristics and cropping systems were collected and then multiple correspondence and frequency analyses were carried out. The study showed that the socio-economic factors that best discriminate the choice of farming practices are age, level of education and/or literacy, household size and number of agricultural workers. The farmers of the three types of fields are divided into different age groups. However, those in the 30 to 40 and 40 to 56 age groups are the most numerous and represented in all fields. The 40 to 56 age group includes the largest proportion of farmers regardless of the type of field. The youngest and oldest farmers are found exclusively in village and bush fields. Farmers in these last two types of fields have larger households and agricultural assets. Investment costs per hectare for the purchase of NPK fertilizers and urea are higher in village fields than in hut and bush fields. The recommended doses of organic and mineral manure are applied only in village fields by some groups of farmers. However, the lowest doses are found in bush fields with non-recommended application methods.