Comparative advantage of single and multipurpose uses of millet stover in Niger

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Abstract

This study compares the economic profitability of five alternative uses of millet stover in the Sahelian zones of West Africa: mulching at a rate of 0 (zero mulch), 0·5 (low mulch), 2 t ha−1 (high mulch), burning at a rate of 2 t ha−1 (burning) and as animal feed (crop-livestock). Results are based on experiments conducted at the ICRISAT Sahelian Research Center, Niger. Gross margin estimations show that the crop-livestock use had the highest returns to total labour. Burning stover gave the highest returns per unit weeding time. Returns to land were highest for the high mulch use. When the alternatives were compared by linear programming models of typical farms in Western Niger, all optimal solutions suggested a multipurpose use of stover. Optimal combinations of stover use varied with the resources available. Future research recommendations are presented.

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