An ex post economic assessment of planted forages in West Africa

This study assesses, in an indicative way, the impact of fodder banks and forage legume technology in countries of West Africa. The economic surplus method is used to estimate the social rate of return to public investment in research on fodder banks and the distribution of that return amongst producers and consumers. Subsequent sections of this report describe the technology of fodder banks, the economic surplus method, sources of data and the results of the analyses. Under the chapter Data and Sources, estimating benefits including milk yield, weight gain, calving rate and calf survival, cow survival, crop yields, residue yield and fertilizer saved, are discussed, and elasticities of supply and demand examined with particular reference to research, costs of establishing of fodder banks, and commodity prices, exchange rates, and national production figures. The chapter on Description of the technology deals with yield affordability and benefits. The chapter on Adoption Rates and Patterns summarises country findings.