Impact of the Adoption of Improved Rice Seeds on the Food Security of Rural Households in Burkina Faso

Abstract

This paper determines the impact of the adoption of improved rice seeds on rural household food security, using farm-level data from 1925 rice-producing households in Burkina Faso. We used an endogenous switching ordered probit to assess the impact. The Consolidated Food Security Indicators (CARI) approach, which is a composite indicator, was used to measure the food security of rural households. The food consumption score (FCS) was used as a robustness test. The results show that government support, the use of fertilizers and pesticides, information, technical support, and residing in the South Sudanese area promote the adoption of improved seeds. In addition, the adoption of improved seeds increases the food security and limited food security of adopters by 12.59% and 4.37% more, respectively. Also, the adoption of improved seeds reduces the severe food insecurity of adopters by 15.4% less. This result, therefore, supports the theory that the adoption of improved seeds increases the food security of rural households. Thus, policy makers, non-governmental organizations, and partners must focus on improved rice seeds to improve the food security of rural households in Burkina Faso.