Weeding costs analysis of in cotton farming system in Burkina Faso

Abstract

In the cotton-growing regions of Burkina Faso, controlling weed infestation in cotton fields incurs significant costs that can hinder proper field maintenance. A survey was

carried out in 2022 and 2023 to identify the weeding methods used by cotton producers and to determine their costs. To this end, a structured questionnaire was administered to 335 producers, selected through stratified random sampling across the SOFITEX,  SOCOMA,  and  FASO COTON  cotton-growing zones. The objective was

to collect data on cultivation practices, types and costs of weeding, used agricultural

equipment and factors influencing the weeding operations’ cost and duration of. The

survey revealed that among the various weed control practices in cotton cultivation,

the use of a pre-emergence herbicide combined with two animal-drawn weedings, as

well as animal-drawn ploughing and ridging, represents the least expensive option,

with an estimated cost of 55,707 FCFA/ha. In comparison, the strategy based on three

manual weedings, also combined with animal-drawn ploughing and ridging, amounts

to 94,565 FCFA/ha. The study shows that weeding cost significantly increases

depending on the number of interventions, particularly in case of manual labour.

Furthermore, weeding operations’ duration is strongly influenced by the availability

of family labour force. With an average of six people per household, animal-drawn

weeding is nearly twice as fast as manual weeding, averaging respectively 67.92

hours/ha versus 130 hours/ha. In light of the economic burden posed by repeated

manual weeding, the study recommends the adoption of integrated weed management

practices that combine the judicious use of herbicides with animal-drawn methods, in

order to enhance the profitability of cotton farms.