Increasing cassava productivity through mosaic disease management practices: Evidence from smallholder farmers in Togo

Cassava mosaic disease (CMD) remains a major constraint to cassava production in sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in Togo, where it continues to limit productivity and undermine the food security of rural households. In this study, the impact of adopting cassava mosaic disease (CMD) management practices on cassava productivity among smallholder farmers in Togo was evaluated. A Multinomial Endogenous Switching Regression (MESR) model was employed to account for selection bias arising from both observable and unobservable factors. The robustness of the findings was verified using the Inverse Probability Weighted Regression Adjustment (IPWRA) estimator. The results show that the joint adoption of CMD management practices generates the largest productivity gains, increasing cassava yields by 89.9% compared with non-adopters. The findings highlight the importance of promoting integrated CMD management practices to enhance cassava productivity. Strengthening agricultural extension services and improving farmers’ access to CMD-resistant cassava varieties are therefore essential to accelerate the adoption of these practices.