Sociotechnical Profiles and Farming Practices of Maize Producers in Northern Côte d’Ivoire

Maize plays an important role in production systems in northern Côte d’Ivoire, where farmers adopt diverse cultivation practices based on their sociotechnical characteristics and local production conditions. The objective of this study was to compare the sociotechnical profiles and farming practices of maize producers in three areas in northern Côte d’Ivoire: Ferkessédougou, Boundiali, and Korhogo. A survey was conducted among 286 maize producers in eleven (11) villages, including 184 in Ferkessédougou, 66 in Boundiali, and 36 in Korhogo. The data collected focused primarily on the sociodemographic characteristics of maize producers, their experience, the areas under cultivation, the varieties grown, and the strategies they adopted to address financial constraints. The data were analysed using a chi-square test (χ²) with the Sphinx Plus 2 software, version 5.1.0.2. The results revealed significant differences between regions in terms of certain sociotechnical parameters and crop management practices, including educational level, experience in maize cultivation, management strategies during periods of food shortages, cultivated areas, adjustments in cultivated areas between 2024 and 2025, varieties grown, variety colour, and criteria for variety selection. The study thus highlights the need to take local specificities into account when formulating strategies for technical support and the dissemination of agricultural innovations aimed at maize producers in northern Côte d’Ivoire.