FACTORS AFFECTING THE ADOPTION OF FERTILIZERS BY RICE FARMERS IN COTE-DIVOIRE

This paper analyzed the factors that affect the adoption of chemical f ertilizers by rice farmers in Cote d'Ivoire using a Tobit model. The r esults show that the major factors that positively influence farmers' use of fertilizers in rice fields are cultivation of lowlands, use of mechanization, farm size, land pressure and availability of non-farm i ncome. Factors found to negatively affect the use of fertilizer in ric e fields are the distance of the field to the village, distance of the village to the major market, and if the cultivator is a female. The p aper concludes with strategies for targeting soil fertility interventi ons on farmers' rice fields.