Adoption of New Sorghum Varieties in Mali Through a Participatory Approach

Although it is commonly accepted that farmers’ participation in the process of technology development can improve adoption rates, few studies have tested this relationship. The authors tested the role of farmers’ participation in the decision to adopt new sorghum varieties in the Sudan Savanna of Mali. They found that the intensity of participation positively affects adoption rates on household plots.This study draws attention to the importance of farmers’ participation as a sustainable practice that can stimulate the adoption of new technology and, in doing so, enhance food security. Future research should explore the intrahousehold dynamics of farm input adoption, and the role of different forms of participation in the innovation process.