Impact of infestation by parasitic weeds on rice farmers' productivity and technical efficiency in sub-Saharan Africa

Rice production is crucial for food security and income generation in sub-Saharan Africa. However,
productivity and technical efficiency levels in rice production systems are severely constrained by
biotic constraints such as parasitic weeds. This paper assesses the impact of infestation by parasitic
weeds on rice farmers’ technical efficiency and examines the potential role of managerial factors in
improving technical efficiency. Household and field survey data were collected from rice farmers in
Cote d’Ivoire and Benin in West Africa. A stochastic frontier production function was estimated,
which allows for identifying the levels of exogenous factors that prevent farmers from improving
technical efficiency levels. The results suggest that farmers cope with parasitic weeds through
learning from experiencing infestations by parasitic weed. The results will assist national extension
in designing segmented training programmes that are better tailored to rice farmers’ needs and
preventing food security from being jeopardised by parasitic weeds.