Analysis of the effect of production factors on the agricultural productivity of small rice producers: prospects for optimizing subsidies in Senegal

This study analyses technical efficiency of rice producers in Senegal using a database covering 396 plots, mainly located in Casamance (94.6% of the sample). The descriptive results reveal a predominance of males (86.1%), an ageing agricultural population and a low presence of young people under 35 in the sector. Average yields are 2.47 t/ha, with significant heterogeneity (725 to 5,127 kg/ha) linked to differences in access to inputs and farming practices. Statistical analysis shows that the use of certified seeds and deep ploughing are significantly associated with higher yields, while excessive use of seeds tends to reduce productivity. Furthermore, increased government subsidies contribute to improving the technical performance of rice farms. The technical efficiency model reveals an average score of 0.724, suggesting that rice farmers could increase their production by 27.6% without additional inputs, simply by optimising their practices. Finally, receiving subsidies and using certified seeds appear to be the key drivers of performance. These results confirm the importance of better targeting public policies, equitable access to quality inputs and appropriate technical support in order to reduce inefficiencies and sustainably improve rice productivity in Senegal.