Determinants of cottonseed cake adoption in pastoral and agropastoral systems in Burkina Faso: Do perceptions of climate change matter?

Yacouba Kagambega & Patrice Rélouendé Zidouemba

Abstract
This study examines the extent to which, in the Sahelian environment – where the scarcity of forage is intensifying – climate change perceptions influence the adoption of cottonseed cake among livestock producers in the Hauts-Bassins region of Burkina Faso. Based on the subjective expected utility (SEU) framework, and a logit model estimated with survey data from 366 households, the analysis highlights the role of both perceptual and structural factors in shaping adoption decisions. The results show that herders who perceive climate change as a driver of pasture degradation have a 7.5 percentage point higher probability of adopting cottonseed cake compared to those who do not share this perception. Beyond perceptions, household resources and enabling conditions also matter. Access to credit, income and membership of producer associations significantly raise the likelihood of adoption, while pastoral status and greater distance from supply points reduce it. Education and regular contact with extension agents further strengthen adoption capacity, although with varying levels of significance. Overall, the findings suggest that adaptation decisions are not driven solely by technical or financial constraints. They are equally influenced by how producers interpret environmental changes in their production context. Policy interventions aiming to promote resilient livestock systems should therefore combine improved access to inputs and services with strategies that account for producers’ perceptions of climate change.