Summary
This propensity score matching study in Senegal examines the causal impact of certified seed adoption on cereal yields. Certified seed adoption was associated with higher rice yields and with concurrent adoption of improved water/soil management and crop protection practices; however, certified seed adoption showed no statistically significant effect on millet yields, with point estimates suggesting a modest yield decline. The authors recommend targeted promotion of certified rice seed through subsidies, training, and infrastructure investment, whilst strengthening credit access for smallholder farmers.
Regional applicability
Senegal's smallholder cereal farming context differs from United Kingdom conditions; however, the methodological approach (propensity score matching to isolate causal effects of seed system adoption) and policy conclusions regarding targeted support, training, and credit systems may offer transferable insights for United Kingdom agricultural development policy or international technical assistance programmes. The findings highlight that seed quality improvements alone may be insufficient without complementary agronomic practices.
Key measures
Rice yield (measured as effect of certified seed adoption), millet yield (measured as effect of certified seed adoption; 70.8 kg/ha difference via NN method), logit model estimates of factors associated with certified seed adoption
Outcomes reported
The study measured the causal effect of certified seed adoption on rice and millet yields using propensity score matching. It examined associations between adoption and water/soil management, crop protection, and fertiliser use practices.
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