Pression Agrofonciere Et Mutations Agraires Sur Le Plateau Adja Au Sud Ouest Du Benin

Abstract

History shows that the evolution of agrarian systems has generally been towards more intensive systems under the pressure of demographic pressure. The agrofoncial pressure experienced by the Adja Plateau and the resulting agrarian mutations have been studied by this research. The methodology used includes data collection, processing and analysis. The socio-economic surveys were carried out in selected villages on the basis of well-defined criteria. The 1995 Schwartz method was used to establish the sample. Also, seven (7) focus groups were carried out in 7 different villages. The proportions of arable land per farm and land tenure were calculated and analyzed. Agricultural practices were identified and then characterized. The determination of the level of pressure on the land was carried out by calculating the coefficients of Rutemberg R (1980), Allan L (1965) and the agro-demographic index (IAT). The results show that, in addition to traditional modes of access to arable land, such as inheritance and donation, new modes such as sharecropping, leasing and purchase have emerged and developed on the Adja Plateau. This situation can be explained by the gradual reduction of land available for agricultural assets, with an average of 0.34 ha for the whole of the Plateau. The result is a very long period of land use (9 years) before set-aside. For the whole Plateau, the average values of R, L and AIT are respectively 78.39; 1.28 and 0.12 ha / hbt. These figures indicate that the environment is characterized by a system of permanent crops in an area subject to high human pressure.