This article used a Tobit model to analyze what determines the decisions to adopt and intensify the use of chemical fertilizers in cereal production in Burkina Faso. The results show that the main factors that explain the adoption and increased use of chemical fertilizers are: agricultural potential of the area of production, ownership of a radio set, formal education of actives household members, closeness to an earth-built road, amount of credit and membership in a group of producers. The marginal effects showed that the probability of adoption of chemical fertilizers by new entrants is greater than the probability of existing producers intensifying the usage of chemical fertilizers. These results imply that the incentives for the adoption and intensification policies should primarily target producers who have not yet used chemical fertilizers.

 

Key words: Tobit model, adoption, intensification, fertilizers, cereals.