Spatio-temporal diffusion of spontaneous adoption of agricultural innovations in the cotton zone of Mali: Ziguéna, Kignan sector

Abstract

Agriculture in Mali's cotton-growing zone faces constraints in improving production and productivity. Agricultural growth has always been based on increasing the area under cultivation. Against this backdrop, the PASEII research teams have proposed a number of innovations to improve the production of cropping systems: Tilemsi Lime and Natural Phosphate (TNP), Cotton Ecimage, Mucuna fodder crops and contour farming (ACN). These innovations were introduced on selected farms in the village of Ziguéna and two extension villages. Suddenly, in addition to the supported farms, other farmers began to test and even adopt these innovations. The aim of this study is to "identify the logic of the spatio-temporal diffusion of the adoption of agricultural innovations in the village of Ziguéna and surrounding area (Cercle de Sikasso)". To answer these questions, a survey was conducted among 325 farms adopting innovations over three years from( 2015 to 2017) in 9 neighboring villages plus the starting site (Ziguéna). To identify the innovation adoption plots, geographical coordinates were collected. The processing tools used are: the nearest neighbor method and Arc GIS 10.3 Distance Standard Deviation for understanding spatial diffusion logics. The results of this analysis show that spatial diffusion corresponds to direct contact between producers and innovations or innovators. The diffusion model used is that of "extension". It represents a movement whereby a phenomenon appears in one place and gradually spreads over a wider area, without its intensity at source diminishing over time.