Agricultural technology and living conditions of rice farmers in Cameroon: case of the Northwest region

Anki Yambare, National Statistics Institute, Congo

In Cameroon, the rice occupies a strategical place in the agricultural sector because of its growing importance in national consumption and exchanges with outside. This study appreciates the impact of the adoption of agricultural technology on the productivity of rice and paddy rice farmers income householders in the North West of Cameroon in using the method of instrumental variables (Local Average Treatment Effect « LATE »), inspired by the work of Abadie (2003). At this effect and relatively of the available data (2013-2014 investigation rice), two types of technology have been retained: the New Rice for Africa (NERICA) and contract farming system. The results reveal that rice productivity increases of 1.04 ton / ha when the rice farmers adopt New Rice for Africa. Moreover, rice farmers who have produced at least one agricultural contract increase their income 288,565.2 FCFA / ha. Therefore, this study suggests to broaden the base of the development of the rice value chain which offers access to seeds for all, technical frameworks including training, strengthening agricultural contracts and access financing. Keywords: Impact, LATE, NERICA, agricultural Contract, Farm Household