Western Africa : maize or sorghum

Western Africa:

maize or sorghum

W ill millet and sorghum,

the dominant food crops

in savanna areas

of western Africa,

be gradually replaced

by maize?

Although maize

is a productive cereal

that is often grown

successfully,

its extension

is dependent

on agricultural policies

and particularly

on the future

of the cotton sector.

J.-L. FUSILLIER CIRAD-CA, BP 5 0 3 5 Montpellier Cedex 1, France

O v e r the past 20 years, the courses o f d e v e lo p m e n t o f v a rio u s cereal crops (e .g . m i l l e t , s o r g h u m , m a i z e a n d rice ), sta p le fo o d s in s a v a n n a areas o f w e s t e r n A f r i c a , h a v e d i f f e r e d m a rk e d ly .

Rice c r o p p in g in these parts o f A fric a has l o n g b e e n th e fo c u s o f g o v e r n ­ m e n t a n d s p o n s o r a t t e n t i o n . M o s t o f th e s u p p o r t a v a i l a b l e f o r c e re a l p r o d u c t i o n is t a p p e d t o f u n d r i c e p r o d u c t i o n in i r r i g a t e d a re a s , b u t th e r i s in g f o o d d e m a n d is s t i l l n o t b e in g met.

Rainfed m i ll e t and s o rg h u m are still th e d o m i n a n t c e re a l c r o p s (Figs. 1 & 2), a c c o u n t i n g fo r a lm o s t 8 0 % in the Sahel region and 6 0 % in the coastal c o u n t r ie s (s o u rc e : F A O ). H o w e v e r ,

m i l l e t a n d s o r g h u m p r o d u c t i o n has b e e n m o d e r a t e l y i n c r e a s i n g , + 3 . 3 % p e r a n n u m fr o m 1 9 7 4 - 1 9 7 7 to 1 9 8 9 -1991 in th e Sahel region and + 2 . 1 % in th e coastal co u n trie s , w it h sh a rp b e tw e e n - y e a r flu c tu a t io n s . A t t h e s a m e t i m e , m a i z e p r o d u c t i o n t o o k o f f in t h e S a h e l r e g i o n , + 8 . 6 % p e r a n n u m , as c o m p a r e d to a rise o f + 4 .7 % in the coastal countries w h e r e m a iz e is tr a d it io n a lly g ro w n . These b u o y a n t c o n d it io n s fo r m a iz e c o u ld in d ic a te partia l s u b s titu tio n o f t h i s c r o p f o r s o r g h u m . H e r e w e a t t e m p t to c l a r i f y th e c o n d i t i o n s o f this progress by assessing the geogra­ p h i c a l areas a n d fa c t o r s i n v o l v e d . The prospects fo r these crops are also co n s id e re d in the lig h t o f the c u rre n t e c o n o m i c setting.

Years

Figure 1. Maize, millet and sorghum production in the Sahelian countries (FAO).

SENEGAL \ _{Maize > sorghum} NIGER GUINEA 'BISSAU' BURKINA GUINEA / \ SIERRA) 1EONE COTE D'IVOIRE LIBERIA G H A N A

lure 3. Cereal western Africa

The importance

of different cereals

in cropping systems

M i ll e t , s o rg h u m and m a iz e c ro p p in g patte rn s in w e s te rn A fr ic a g e n e ra lly c o i n c i d e w i t h c l i m a t i c z o n e s , Years Figure 2. Maize, millet and sorghum production in the coastal countries (Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Togo, Benin, Nigeria) (FAO).

d e p e n d in g on th e degree o f d ro u g h t to le ra n c e o f th e c ro p (Fig. 3). A n n u a l ra i n f a l l in m i l l e t c r o p p i n g z o n e s is less t h a n 8 0 0 m m , in s o r g h u m c r o p p in g zones it is 800-1 0 0 0 m m , a n d m a i z e is d o m i n a n t w h e n p r e c i p i t a t i o n l e v e l s a r e a b o v e 1 0 0 0 m m per a n n u m .

It is n o t easy to investigate varia tio n s on a c o u n tr y o r re g io n a l scale since a v a i l a b l e d a ta o n c r o p p r o d u c t i o n and c o m p o n e n t s (e.g. areas, yield s) a r e t o o u n r e l i a b l e f o r s t a t i s t i c a l a n a l y s i s . T h e p r o b l e m is f u r t h e r i n c r e a s e d b y t h e f a c t t h a t t h e s e su b s is te n c e c ro p s are c o n s u m e d by t h e p r o d u c e r s . A m o r e s u i t a b l e a p p ro a c h w o u l d be to c o m p a re local s i t u a t i o n s , f o r in s t a n c e o n v i l l a g e cro p la n d s. A fte r c o n d u c tin g fie ld sur­ v e y s , c r o p p i n g p a t t e r n s w e r e a n a ly s e d at th e f o l l o w i n g 11 sites: S y o n f a n a n d K a r a k p o in n o r t h e r n C ô t e d ' I v o i r e , K o u r o u m a a n d D a b o u r a in B u r k i n a , M a n g a a n d W a r a g n i in c e n t r a l T o g o a n d Poissongui in th e n o rth o f th e c o u n ­ try, F o n s é b o u g o u a n d N ia r a d o u g o u in s o u th e r n M a l i , T e rre s n e u v e s de K o u m p e n to u m - M a k a in Senegal, and t h e c o t t o n b e l t o f s o u t h e r n C h a d . These g e o g r a p h ic a lly scattered sites d o n o t e n t i r e l y c h a r a c t e r i z e t h e d iv e r s ity in th is savanna area w h e r e

cereals in Africa

a c c li m a t e d m a iz e c o m p e te s w it h sorghum. Nevertheless, the sample was still varied enough to enable us t o m o d e r a t e th e c o m m o n l y - h e l d o p i n i o n t h a t m a i z e c r o p p i n g is expanding in these regions. There are p re s e n tly th re e d if f e r e n t c r o p p in g patterns.

Expansion of maize,

marginalization of millet

and sorghum

In t w o c r o p p in g areas o f n o rth e rn Côte d 'Iv o ire , representative o f the c o n tra s tin g c o tto n p r o d u c tio n and m e c h a n iz a t i o n s it u a t io n , th e re is increased c u ltiv a tio n of pure stands of maize (Fig. 4). M ille t and sorghum c ropping was marginal in 1*975 and had c o m p l e t e l y d is a p p e a r e d by 1989.

At Kourouma (Burkina), substitution of maize for sorghum, the traditional c r o p in th is r e g io n , is u n d e r w a y . Farm m echanization is quite advan­ ced in this cropping area, small trac­ tors w e r e i n t r o d u c e d in th e e a r ly

Figure 4. Extension o f m aize and m arg ina liza tion o f millet and sorghum. C ro pping system changes in the savanna zone o f western A fric a (% o f cropland in the village lands on which the considered crop is grown).

1980s. Maize has been favored since 1984 on farms equipped for animal traction or motorized cultivation.

Slow expansion of maize,

dominance of millet

and sorghum

S o rgh um is t r a d i t i o n a l l y g r o w n in cropping areas o f southern Mali, cen­ tral-western Burkina (Daboura) and in central T ogo (Fig. 5). M a iz e has long been present but its importance is s till o n l y m a r g in a l. T his c ro p is generally grown continuously in gar­ dens c lo s e to s e ttle m e n ts , w h i c h means it benefits from careful c u ltu ­ ral practices (maintenance, organic fertilizatio n). The present expansion of maize represents a shift of the crop f r o m th e v i ll a g e g a rd e n s to m o re r e m o t e f i e l d s w h i c h are u s u a ll y cropped w ith m illet and sorghum. The c ro p p in g trend in the D aboura (Burkina) regio n dem onstrates that m a iz e is r e a c h in g q u i t e n o r t h e r n zones.

M a i z e is e v e n in t e r c r o p p e d w it h sorghum , b ut not in pure stands as occurs at Fonsébougou in southern M ali and at Waragni in central Togo. The expansion of cotton production is th e m o s t s t r ik in g fe a t u r e in th e d e v e l o p m e n t o f th e s e c r o p p i n g systems. The spread of maize seems to be but a secondary phenomenon.

Maize production

is stagnant

The situations are very different in the c r o p p in g areas o f Terres neuves in eastern Senegal, in n o rth e rn Togo (Poissongui) and in southern Chad (Fig. 6). Eastern Senegal is an im m i­ gration zo ne w it h substantial a v a i­ lable fund ing . In 1974, mig rant far­ mers setting up operations in the area as p a rt o f a d e v e lo p m e n t p r o je c t ign ored re c o m m e n d a tio n s to c ro p c o t t o n and m a iz e . T h is r e j e c t io n seems to have been based on the fact t h a t g r o u n d n u t p r o d u c t i o n w as a more cost-effective alternative.

D a b o u r a

N ia r a d o u g o u

1977 1987

Maize

Millet and sorghum jJ Maize-millet and sorghum I Other association with maize jlz ^ Cotton

Other crops

In % of land cropped per region

Figure 5. Limited extension o f maize and steady dom inance o f millet and sorghum. C ro pping system changes in the savanna zone o f western A fric a (% o f cropland in the region on w hich the considered crop is grown).

In northern Togo, the introduction of c o tto n w as unsu ccessfu l fo r o th e r reasons. In the c r o p p in g reg io n o f P o is s o n g u i, s o il d e g r a d a t i o n has occurred as a result of high p o p u la ­ t i o n p re s s u r e . T o an i n c r e a s i n g e x te n t, fa rm e rs are f o c u s in g t h e ir efforts on m onocropping cereals (but n o t m a iz e ) in o rd e r to m e e t basic food requirements. M a iz e cro p p in g w o u l d be t o o d e m a n d i n g in t h is situation of declining soil fertility and low farm mechanization. The lack of pro gression o f m aize in the co tto n ba s in o f s o u th e r n C ha d c o u l d be explained by the extensive practices of farmers.

The respective

qualities of maize

and sorghum

Producers' choices are based on cer­ t a i n k e y e le m e n t s : p r o d u c t i v i t y , adaptation to clim ate and soil, fle x i­ bility o f the cropping schedule, a b ili­ ty to meet c o nsu m e r requirem ents, fa cility of postharvest processing.

Advantages of maize:

productivity and earliness

W ith its higher yield potential maize offers better labour productivity even though the w orkload is considerably higher for this crop (sorghum easily adapts to lo w m a in te n a n c e c o n d i ­ tions).

M aize is, however, fu lly p roductive w ith sufficient water supplies and fer­ t i l i z a t i o n , and th e needs fo r these in p u t s is m u c h h i g h e r th a n f o r s o rg h u m . W a te r r e q u ir e m e n t s fo r maize vary according to the length of the growth cycle o f the variety. In the Sudanian zone, it is generally esta­ blished that 600-900 mm per annum of evenly distributed rainfall is neces­ sary. From the m id-1980s, the more favorable precipitation levels in this zone were p robably instrumental in th e n o rth w a rd e x pa ns ion o f m aize from the savanna regions.

M aize requires fertile soil, and yield d iffe re n c e s vis -à -v is so rg hu m thus become greater w ith increased m ine­ ral fertilization. The different specific uses of farmlands are noteworthy, i.e. the best soils are cropped w ith maize and the poorest w ith sorghum, w hich means that these tw o crops are relati­ vely complementary. The superiority o f maize is fu rther enhanced by the use of improved varieties.

T h e y i e l d d i f f e r e n c e s b e t w e e n sorghum and maize also reflect diffe­ rences in the c ropping systems used (Fig. 7). The overall peak millet/sorg­ hum yields are 1- 1.2 t/ha (excluding irrig a te d systems), w h e re a s m a iz e y i e l d s are u s u a l l y 1 . 5 - 2 . 5 t / h a . M a n u re is a lm o s t never a p p lie d to

cereals in Africa

T erre s N e u v e s

K o u m p e n to u m -M a k a P o is s o n g u i

Figure 6. Absence o f extension o f maize. C ropping system changes in the savanna zone o f western A fric a (% o f cropland in the region that is intercropped).

f e r t iliz e m ille t and sorghum crops. O therwise, there are w id e between- c o u n try and -year v a ria tio n s in the p ro p o rtio n o f fe rtiliz e d m aize area m o n ito re d by various d e v e lo p m e n t agencies. T here is a lm o s t no f e r t i ­ lized area in central-southern Togo, 2 0 - 5 0 % in Senegal and 5 0 -7 0 % in M ali. This explains the w id e range of maize yields obtained (from less than 1 t to almost 4 t/ha).

Some early varieties of maize (90-day growth cycle) are highly beneficial in the Sudanian z o n e d u r in g the bet- w e e n - h a r v e s t " b r i d g e " p e r i o d . M a iz e , co n s u m e d in the green ear stage, is often the best supplementary crop to bridge the gap before the new harvest of other longer gro wth cycle food crops. Marketing of this crop as o f th e m o n t h o f S e p te m b e r c o u ld

p r o v i d e f u n d s to s u r m o u n t th e d i f f i c u l t f i n a n c i a l p e r i o d b e fo r e cotton revenues c om e in. A lth ou gh there are some early and productive s e le c te d v a r i e t i e s , t h e y are n o t w i d e l y used fo r t w o reasons: first, there are often problems o f seed rot since the panicles are very compact; s e c o n d ly , c o n s u m e rs p re fe r t r a d i ­ t i o n a l v a r ie t ie s w h i c h h ave m o re appealing culinary and organoleptic qualities.

The advantages

of sorghum: hardiness,

easy milling,

organoleptic qualities

So rgh um is an e a s y - to - g ro w p la n t th a t is f u l ly adapted to th e natural e n v i r o n m e n t s o f th e r e g io n , e.g. extreme c lim a tic variations, lo w soil fe rt ility , etc.. It is a secure c rop for farmers, contrary to maize. The lower d rought tolerance o f this latter crop means that maize farmers run a food risk (self-sufficiency in cereal produc­ tion is often a prime objective o f pro­ ducers because of the volatile cereal markets), and a financial risk, espe­ c ia lly for maize grain (repayment of inputs required to o b ta in high p ro ­ ductivity). In southern M ali, in 1992- 1993 (before devaluation of the CFA fra n c ), per h e c ta re f e r t i l i z e r costs matched the price of 5 00 -7 00 kg of maize.

Easy m illing is an important criterion since this operation is usually done m a n u a lly b y w o m e n . H u l l i n g and m i l l i n g are e a s ie r and s h o r te r fo r m ille t and sorghum than for m aize because o f th e hardness o f m a iz e seeds (Table 1 ).

M a i z e is n o t a lw a y s h u l l e d . However, m illing is so d ifficult that it is an obstacle to the extension of this c rop . In n o rth e rn C a m e ro o n , m ills had to be set up to enable farmers to switch to maize. M echanical m illing of maize is more costly than for m illet o r s o r g h u m , e .g. 2 5 - 5 0 % m o r e expensive in northern Cameroon. F in a lly , m a n y fo o d s tu d ie s in th e S a h e lia n c o u n t r i e s i n d i c a t e t h a t

Maize

■ Millet and sorghum

1

Maize-millet and sorghum ■ Other association with maize g Cotton

□ Other crops

In % of land cropped per region

O N D R c o tto n z o n e

1 000 km

J 4 _c ia 3: 1 3.5 0 N 'o 2 3 2.5 2 1.5 1 0.5 0 0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4

Millet and sorghum yields in t/h a

Figure 7. M aize, millet and sorghum yields in the cotton belt during the 1 984-1 9 9 2 period. Each po in t represents mean maize, millet and sorghum yields for a region supervised by a cotton-producing com pany, fo r a given yea r (sources: CIRAD-CA Togo and cotton-producing com panies CMDT, SODEFITEX, SOFITEX).

urban and rural consumers are still very attached to m illet and sorghum. These staple foods are appreciated for th e ir o rg a n o le p tic q ua litie s and traditional importance, closely linked w ith positive social values. This high status is r e fle c te d in th e fa c t th a t m ille t and sorghum are often in c lu ­ ded in fe s tiv e dishes, p a r t i c u l a r l y some v a rie tie s such as m o u s k w a ri s o r g h u m in n o r t h e r n C a m e r o o n . Conversely, maize is sim ply used as an "o rd in a ry " cereal in d a ily dishes (couscous, mash).

T a b la 1. M a n u a l pro cessin g o f m a iz e and sorghum expressed in kilogram m es o f seeds per hour o f w o rk (Agel & Yung, 1985).

M aize M ille t and sorghum H u llin g 8-12 9-15 M illin g 2-3 4

The cultural status o f m illet and sorg­ h um p r o b a b ly e n h a n c e s the cost- e ff e c t iv e n e s s o f th ese t r a d i t i o n a l cereals w h i c h are m ore e x pe ns iv e th a n m a i z e , e .g . p r o d u c e r p r i c e d iffe re n c e s are 1 5 - 2 5 % h ig h e r for m illet and sorghum in Mali.

M aize diffusion,

reflection

of the economic

situation

The in s t it u t io n a l s u p p o rt rece ive d from the late 1970s to the mid-1980s c o n t r i b u t e d s u b s t a n t i a l l y to th e spread o f maize. Introduction of this cro p was seen as a suitable w a y o f b o o s tin g cereal p r o d u c t i v it y . This m e t w i t h g o v e r n m e n t o b j e c t i v e s im p r o v in g n a tio n a l fo o d su pp lie s, w h i l e ta p p in g land and m a n p o w e r resources in order to increase export crops, m ainly cotton.

Parallel development

of maize and cotton

This s u p p o rt was c h ie f ly p ro v id e d through cotton companie s involved in the overall a gric u ltura l d e v e lo p ­ ment of cotton growing areas in Mali, S e n e g a l, C ô t e d ' I v o i r e and C a m e r o o n . M a i z e w a s t h e m a in recommended, and sometimes c o m ­ p u ls o ry , r o ta tio n c ro p w it h c o tto n and food crop intensification a c tiv i­ ties fa v o r e d m a iz e , i.e. i m p r o v e d seed, fe rtiliz a tio n , herbicides (often on credit). The results varied between c o u n t r i e s a n d a c c o r d i n g to th e cropping techniques used.

Im proved maize seeds were w id e ly used, as much as 800 t per annum in the cotton belt o f Côte d 'Ivoire until 1988, representing about 40 000 ha o f c r o p s . T h is c o n t r a s t e d w i t h the s ituation in the othe r co un trie s w here less than 100 t per annum of improved seeds were used.

The use o f fe rtiliz e rs on m aize has o n ly been widespread in the cotton b e lt o f M a l i . T he areas f e r t i l i z e d increased from 10 000 ha in 1981 to 70 000 ha in 1992 but the doses were red uce d. M in e r a l f e r t iliz a t io n was in itia lly promoted through incentive measures. M ali is the only country to have ta k e n p u b l i c steps fo r large scale c o lle c tio n o f m aize crops (up to 8 000 t c o llected) at a price that

cereals in Africa

Photo B. Reynaud - Q o C L CL O <D I 1.4 - i 1.2 1 - 0.8 -0.6 -0.4 - 0.2

makes the use of fertilizers worthwhile. The C M D T a b a nd on ed this c o ll e c ­ tion after the cereal market was libe­ ralized in 1986. Since then, cropping patterns on m a iz e c ro p la n d s have clearly changed and many producers are n o w in t e r c r o p p i n g m a iz e and sorghum.

Herbicide use has been increasing in M a li and Côte d 'I v o ir e , b u t n o t in Senegal and C a m e r o o n . C r o p la n d extension, rather than crop intensifi­ c a t io n , seems to be th e o b j e c t iv e here.

Aid for the m echanization of cotton plantations (funds to buy equip ment and tra in planters) has been m ore effective in prom oting the extension of maize cropping than crop intensi­ f i c a t i o n p r o g r a m m e s . M a i z e has b e n e f i t e d c o n s i d e r a b l y f r o m the extension of cotton croplands since it is a choice rotation crop w ith cotton, a n d m e c h a n i z a t i o n has f u r t h e r enhanced this progress (Fig. 8 ). For instance, at Daboura in Burkina, the increase in m o to r iz e d and a n im a l tra c tio n e q u ip m e n t c o in c id e d w it h a reduction o f sorghum in c rop ping plans. Manual cultivation Animal traction cultivation Motorized cultivation

Figure 8. Effect o f m echanization on the surface area cropped per farm in western Burkina (Faure, 1991, 1992).

Changes with the cotton

crisis of the late 1 980s

A f te r 1 98 6, cereal d y n a m ic s w e re upset by a crisis in the cotton sector subsequent to a w o rld w id e slump in cotton prices. Budgetary deficits for­ ced c o tto n -p ro d u c in g companie s to reduce th e ir s u p p o rt to producers. Food crops were imm ediately affec­ ted by this divestiture.

Subsidies and d is trib u tio n for food crop inputs are n ow challenged. The private sector is still not develo ped enough to offer an alternative to the established o rd er. Private in v o lv e ­ m e n t w i l l p r o b a b l y be l i m i t e d to easy-access zones that are lik e ly to bring the highest profits, thus neglec­ t i n g m a n y r u r a l c o m m u n i t i e s . O r g a n i z a t i o n s o f p r o d u c e r s are t a k i n g shap e, b u t t h e i r r e p r e s e n ­ ta tives w i l l re q u ire tr a in in g , espe­ cially in management.

The crisis has caused a marked drop in profit margins for cotton planters. I n p u t p ric e s h ave in c re a s e d w it h c o n c o m i t a n t s t a g n a t io n o r e v e n d e c l i n e o f c o t t o n p r ic e s in s om e countries. The situation is je o p a rd i­ zing maize crop intensification prac­ tices w h ic h are generally funded w ith cotton profits. The market d e v e lo p ­ ment of maize usually does not gene­ rate enough in c o m e to c o v er c r o p ­ ping expenses. For instance, in one of the most advanced regions o f M a li (Koutiala ), the m arketab le share o f the maize crop is too low, i.e. about 20% in 1992 or 500 kg o f seed/ha. In 1993 (before devaluation of the CFA f r a n c ) , th is w as a b le to c o v e r the costs for 50 kg of NPK and 100 kg of urea per hectare.

The reaction of producers in cotton g ro w in g areas o f M a li, Burkina and Togo has been to reduce inputs for c o tto n and m aize. In M a li, despite the fact that the C M D T recommends a p p l i c a t i o n o f 1 0 0 k g /h a o f NPK c o m p le te fe rtiliz e r (standard cereal fertilizer 15-15-15) and 150 kg/ha of urea, th e a c tu a l a p p li c a t i o n rates used b y fa rm e rs in 1 9 9 3 w e r e as f o llo w s : 5 3 % o f m a iz e area u n d e r

C M D T s u p e r v is io n w as f e r t i l i z e d w i t h N PK (m e a n 4 0 k g /h a ), 6 2 % received urea (mean 72 kg/ha).

Devaluation of the CFA

franc: an uncertain future

for maize

D evaluation o f the CFA franc is the latest e conom ic adjustment measure. I t c o u l d p e n a l i z e c r o p s t h a t r e q u i r e im p o r t e d in p u t s , su ch as m aize b ut n ot sorghum and m ille t. To w h a t extent w ill potential cotton export earnings be passed on to the farmers? Cotton c ould again have a key role in fu nding maize crop inten­ sification if cotton profit margins for producers increase significantly.

References

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B E N H A M O U J., R A Y M O N D H., ZASLAVSKI J., 1983. Evaluation des filières c o to n et maïs au M a l i . Paris, France, the French m in is tère des relatio ns extérieures, 250 pp.

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VVíÍÉÉ& S*. ; ?

Photo J. Chantereau

cereals in Africa

Abstract... Resumen... Résumé

J.-L. FUSILLIER - Western Africa: maize

or sorghum?

M a iz e has been w id e ly cu ltivated in sa v a n n a areas of Western Africa since the 1 9 7 0 s . How ever, in the northern part w he re sorghum and m illet are trad ition ally grown, substitution of m a ize for either of these crops appears to be limited. These th re e species could be co m plem entary c o m p a n i o n c r o p s s in c e t h e i r r e q u i r e m e n t s a n d capabilities are quite differen t, i.e. sorghum and millet a r e s ta b le fo o d crops in c lim a tic a n d e c o n o m ic risk situations, w hereas m a ize is a high yield crop. The cotton crisis and divestiture of d evelo pm ent agencies at the end o f th e 1 9 8 0 s c h allen g es th e in te n s ific a tio n o f cereal cropping. This will probably lead to ren ew ed interest in so rg h u m an d m ille t to the d e tr im e n t of m a ize , w hich requires additional inputs such as fertilizers. The future o f m a ize is now uncertain, due to devalu ation of the CFA franc, an d depends on w h e th er cotton e x p o rt earnings will be passed on to the farm ers.

K e y w o r d s : m a i z e , s o r g h u m , m i l l e t , c o t to n p l a n t , cro pp in g system , fa r m in g system , e c on om y , B u rkin a, Côte d'Iv oire, M ali, Senegal, Chad, Togo.

J.-L. FUSILLIER - Africa del Oeste: ¿maiz o sorgo? El cultivo de m a íz está m u y e x te n d id o en la zo n a de sabana de Africa del Oeste desde la década del 7 0 . En la parte septentrional, áre a de cultivo tradicional de sorgo y m ijo, la sustitución del sorgo o del mijo por el m a íz res u lta no ob s ta n te lim it a d a . Por t e n e r ex ig e n c ia s y potencialidades m u y distintas, estas tres plantas pueden p r e s e n ta r ciertos ca rác te re s c o m p le m e n ta r io s en los sistem as de cultivo: el so rgo y m ijo co n s titu y en una seguridad para la producción de plantas comestibles de la e x p l o t a c i ó n f r e n t e a los r ie s g o s c l i m á t i c o s o económ icos, m ie n tra s qu e el m a íz c o rresp o n d e a un o b je tiv o de p r o d u c tiv id a d . La crisis a lg o d o n e r a y el desinteresamiento por las estructuras de desarrollo, que se produjeron a finales de la década del 8 0 , ponen en entredicho de nuevo la intensificación de los cereales, p o r lo q u e h a b r ía q u e e s p e r a r q u e el so rg o y m ijo puedan adquirir nuevo auge, en detrim ento del m aíz, el cual necesita insumos como los abonos en particular. La devaluación del franco CFA deja cierta incertidum bre en c u a n t o a l p o r v e n i r d e l m a i z , q u e d e p e n d e d e la re p e rc u s ió n de la g a n a n c ia p a r a la e x p o r ta c ió n del algodón en las explotaciones agrarias.

Palabras clave : m aíz, sorgo, mijo, algodonero, sistema de cultivo, sistema de producción, econ om ía, B urkina, Costa de M arfil, M ali, Senegal, Chad, Togo.

J.-L. FUSILLIER - Afrique de l'Ouest : maïs ou

sorgho ?

Lo culture du maïs s'est larg e m en t rép an du e dans la zone de savane d'A frique de l'Ouest depuis les années 7 0 . Dans la partie septentrionale, aire de culture traditionnelle du sorgho et du mil, la substitution du maïs au sorgho ou au mil a p p a r a ît ce pe nda nt lim itée . A y a n t des exigences et des potentialités bien distinctes, ces trois plantes peuvent présenter une certaine co m plém entarité dans les systèmes de culture : le sorgho et le mil sécurisent la production vivrière de l'exploitation face a u x risques climatiques ou économiques, tandis que le maïs répond à un objectif de productivité. La crise cotonnière et le désengagem en t des stru ctures de d é v e lo p p e m e n t , in te r v e n u s à la fin des a n n é e s 8 0 , r e m e t t e n t en ca us e l'in t e n s if i c a ti o n des céréales. On pourrait donc s'attendre à un regain d'intérêt pour le sorgho et le mil, au d é trim e nt du maïs, qui néces­ site des in tr a n ts c o m m e les e n g ra is en p a r tic u lie r . La d é va lu atio n du franc CFA laisse une incertitude qu an t à l'ave n ir du maïs, qui dépend de la répercussion du gain à l'exp ortation du coton sur les exploitations agricoles. M o t s - c lé s : m a ïs , s o r g h o , m i l , c o t o n n i e r , s y s t è m e de cu ltu re, systèm e de production, écon om ie, B u rkin a, Côte d'ivoire, M ali, Sénégal, Tchad, Togo.