Abstract
Climate change is a global phenomenon. Its impact on agricultural activities in developing countries has increased dramatically. Understanding how farmers perceive climate change and how they adapt to it is very important to the implementation of adequate policies for agricultural and food security. This paper aims to contribute to an understanding of farmers’ adaptation choices, determinants of the adaptation choices and the long-term implications of the adaptation choices. Data were collected from 120 respondents in the Zou Department of Benin. A binary logit model was used to analyze the factors influencing household decisions to adapt to climate change. Multinomial logistic regression analysis was estimated to analyze the factors influencing households’ choice of adaptation strategies to climate change. The results show that farmers have a developed perception of climate change. These changes are translated by rainfall disturbances (rainfall delays, early cessation, bad rainfall distribution etc.), shortening of the small dry season, increasing of temperature and sometimes, violent winds. The survey reveals that Benin farmers adopt many strategies in response to climate change. These strategies include “Crop–livestock diversification and other good practices (mulching, organic fertilizer),” “Use of improved varieties, chemical fertilizers and pesticides,” “Agroforestry and perennial plantation” and “Diversification of income-generating activities.” The findings also reveal that most of the respondents use these strategies in combination. From the binary logit model, we know that “farming experience” and “educational level of household head” positively influence adaptation decisions. The result of the multinomial logit analysis shows that farming experience, educational level, farm size and gender have a significant impact on climate change adaptation strategies. Based on in-depth analysis of each strategy, we identify crop diversification and agroforestry as being the most promising strategies with benefits for farmers, the environment and future generations.
Highlights
IntroductionClimate variability and change are major challenges hampering agricultural productivity in this region
In sub-Saharan Africa, 63% of the population continues to depend on agriculture [1]
This study revealed that farmers in the Zou Department are well aware of climate change and have a good perception of both its effects and impacts on agricultural production
Summary
Climate variability and change are major challenges hampering agricultural productivity in this region. Africa is one of the most vulnerable continents to the current climate variability with strong economic impacts [2]. This vulnerability is accentuated by development challenges such as endemic poverty, ecosystem degradation and limited access to capital, markets, infrastructure and technology [3]. Benin has been experiencing strong weather variability characterized by a fluctuation of the period and duration of precipitation, a change in annual rainfall, an increasingly hot climate, drought, soil degradation, unexpected flooding, high
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