Determinants of Adoption and Continuous Use of Improved Maize Seeds in Burkina Faso

Abstract

This study aims to identify socio-economic and institutional factors that promote the adoption and continuous use of improved seeds in maize production in Burkina Faso. We use nationally representative panel data and confirm low rates of adoption and continuous use of improved maize seeds. Using a bivariate probit model with sample selection, we find that while the adoption of improved seeds increases with access to credit, membership in farmer organization, and contact with extension services, its continuous use is not affected by such institutional factors after controlling for province level fixed effects that capture agro-ecological variations in the country. Key words: improved maize seeds, continuous use of technology, Burkina Faso