Financial profitability of maize production with bio-fertilizer based on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi native to Benin

Soil degradation, one of the causes associated with declining maize productivity is an environmental concern whose consequences are felt most strongly by poor people in developing countries. Indeed, the production of maize on soil fertilized with a combination of mycorrhizal fungi and half a dose of NPK has resulted in a production like that of the extension practice in Benin. This study aims, through an analysis of the financial profitability, to highlight the interest that maize production can generate with the production system using biofertilizer based on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in Benin. The study was conducted among 100 randomly selected maize producers in 9 villages in South-Benin, Central-Benin and North-Benin. Economic profitability indicators including net margin, average labor productivity, and profit-cost ratio were determined. The results showed that regardless of the production area, maize cultivation with the AMF biofertilizer-based system was more profitable for producers (63,830 FCAF of net margin against 43,730 FCAF for vulgarized practice). Thus, agricultural policies could be oriented towards the promotion of maize inputs based on AMF bio-fertilizers to facilitate their availability to producers. Key words: Arbuscular mycorrhizal, Zea mays L., crop production systems; economic efficiency, farm development, Benin.