Exploring combined adaptation strategies to improve crop yield and smallholder farmers’ welfare

Abstract

ABSTRACT This study investigates whether combinations of climate change adaptation strategies are associated with improved yield and smallholder farmers’ welfare, using a random sample of 200 maize producers in Benin. It employs an extended regression model to address the selection bias and endogeneity issues. Furthermore, as a robustness check, a multinomial endogenous switching regression model is also estimated. Results indicate that tree planting and the use of improved variety are the single strategies that increase yield. However, when combined with other strategies, the effects decrease for tree planting while increasing for the use of improved variety. With regard to the welfare equation, the only improved variety is the single strategy that increases food expenditure per capita, and the effect increases when combined with other strategies. Overall, the results reveal that the use of improved variety is the single strategy that increases both yield and smallholder farmers’ welfare, and combined with other strategies, the effect increases. These findings suggest that the adoption of combined adaptation strategies is important for ensuring smallholder farmers’ welfare.