Farm Characteristics Research Articles

Unlocking crop insurance: exploring farmers' demand and willingness to pay in the agriculture sector

PurposeThis paper examines the willingness to pay (WTP) for insurance premiums and identifies the factors that influence it in fruit, greenhouse vegetables and dairy farming. It evaluates Albanian farmers' WTP for insurance products, emphasizing the key farm characteristics and factors that shape this willingness, offering valuable insights for establishing subsidized insurance.Design/methodology/approachThe study is based on a structured rapid survey conducted in 2019 with 808 farmers and interviews with key experts and operators in the insurance market. Authors use a double-bounded dichotomous choice contingent valuation technique to gauge WTP for insurance products.FindingsResults indicate that farmers' WTP ranges between 1.18 and 2.15% of their income from the main crop, depending on the farming activity, with dairy and greenhouse farmers showing a higher WTP than fruit farmers. WTP is positively related to exposure to climate hazards, engagement in modern market channels and contracting.Research limitations/implicationsThe study used three different types of farms; thus, the findings are not strictly relevant to one activity. Subsequent research could employ choice experiments to evaluate alternative insurance schemes focusing on one sector.Originality/valueThe paper contributes to the literature by empirically testing various determinants for WTP for which there are no valid findings by using contingent choice analysis to explore WTP for crop insurance.

Main characteristics of French farms adopting cereal–legume intercropping: A quantitative exploration at the national and local levels

Main characteristics of French farms adopting cereal–legume intercropping: A quantitative exploration at the national and local levels

Key farm characteristics associated with the level of antimicrobial use in rosé veal production - A Danish database study.

Antimicrobial use (AMU) in veal production is high compared to other bovine production types and has been suggested as an area with potential for AMU reduction. High AMU is a public health concern due to its association with antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Identifying farm characteristics associated with AMU could provide valuable insights for stakeholders seeking to monitor and implement initiatives to reduce AMU. This study aimed at investigating farm characteristics associated with AMU in Danish rosé veal farms, which is the main veal production type in Denmark. The AMU and characteristics included were extracted from two Danish national databases; The Danish Central Husbandry Register (CHR) and the Danish Veterinary Medicines Statistics Program (VetStat). Characteristics included were farm size, mortality, number of suppliers, sites per farm, and farm-level composition of animals with regards to sex and breed. The 118 farms included in the study received 41 % of the total amount of antimicrobials prescribed for Danish calves and young stock in 2020 measured in Animal Daily Doses (ADD). A multivariable linear regression model with the annual average farm-level AMU as outcome was created. AMU was measured as ADD per 100 animals per day (ADD100) and square root-transformed in the model. Increasing farm size and number of suppliers and decreasing proportion of crossbred bulls were found to be significantly associated with higher AMU. However, proportion of crossbred bulls was correlated with proportion of females. Separating the effects of breed and sex was not possible, partly due to the highly summarised data structure. Mortality and number of sites were not significantly associated with AMU. Farms with the type "starter-farms" has previously been shown to have a higher AMU compared to other rosé veal farm types. An important finding in this study was that grouping multiple sites into farms by using ownership data made it possible to summarise AMU for the full line of production from arrival at the veal farm to exit for slaughter. The results and approaches from this paper present an opportunity for repeated evaluation of farm characteristics associated with AMU, which could be used to continuously adapt and target AMU monitoring and control. In addition, it is done on existing surveillance data which keeps the cost of the study low in terms of data collection and data management.

EXAMINING THE DETERMINANTS OF ADOPTION PREFERENCES TOWARDS INTERCROPPING AMONG RUBBER FARMERS IN KALUTARA DISTRICT

Intercropping is an agricultural technique where many crops are grown together on the same field, and it is becoming more widely acknowledged for its ability to improve the productivity and rural livelihoods through raising household income and capital assets. in this context, this study aims to assess the significant mean differences in demographic, economic and farming characteristics across adopting and non - adopting rubber smallholders towards intercropping and examine the impact of above characteristics on the adoption preferences towards intercropping among rubber smallholders in the study area. This research approach based on quantitative and using stratified random sampling method, 150 farmers who cultivate rubber as their major agricultural crop were selected during the period from October 2022 to March 2023. The collected data was analyzed using frequency analysis, descriptive statistics, independent samples t–test, chi- square test and probit model. Results of frequency showed that 79% of the farmers engaged in intercropping system and 21% of them were not adopted in their rubber cultivation. Independent samples t-test proved that on average age, family size, farming experience, farm income, immature rubber land size and distance to market were significantly differ across adaptors and non-adaptors. Estimated results of probit model revealed that among the demographic characteristics, age, education level, family size and membership of farm organizations were significantly impact on adoption of intercropping. Among the farming characteristics, farm experience, ownership of land, time allocation and nature of land were significant in the study. Farm income and size of immature rubber land are the major determinants among the economic related factors in determining the adoption of intercropping. Findings of the study may help the policy makers to formulate the appropriate strategies to increase the income and ensure the economic stability of rubber stallholders in the study area.

Determinants of adoption of Bt cotton among smallholder cotton producers in Kitui and Kisumu counties, Kenya.

The Government of Kenya acknowledges the importance of the cotton industry in the country's development agenda, particularly under the manufacturing pillar. To revitalize the industry, the government approved Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) cotton for commercial production in 2019. Bt cotton is promoted on the grounds that it is resistant to pests such as bollworms which can lead to a reduction in the use of pesticides, improve productivity, and in the long run deliver increased profits to farmers. While Bt Cotton has been promoted since 2019, evidence of its adoption among smallholder farmers is limited. This study assessed the determinants of Bt-cotton adoption among smallholder cotton producers in Kitui and Kisumu counties, Kenya. Data were collected through a cross-sectional survey of 389 households that were selected randomly in Kisumu (192 households) and Kitui Counties (197 households). Among the total sampled households (389), 242 were cotton farming households and 147 were households that were not growing cotton. However, in this study context, the analysis proceeded with the 242 cotton-growing households. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Heckman’s two-stage regression model. The descriptive results showed that nearly half (47.5%) of the cotton-producing households were involved in producing the Bt cotton variety. Heckman’s two-stage model showed that increased access to land for farming (p=0.002), access to extension service (p=0.025), and expected benefits of Bt cotton (early maturity (p=0.000), and better quality of fibre had a positive influence (p=0.010) on adoption, while the distance to the output market (p=0.004) and soil fertility (p=0.076) had a negative influence on adoption. The results further showed that the intensity of adoption increased with household expenditure (p=0.012), access to credit (p=0.096), and having a positive perception of Bt cotton being drought tolerant (p=0.024). Larger household sizes (p=0.096), Bt cotton early maturity attribute (p=0.002), crop diversification (p=0.044), and increased access to land (p=0.002) had a negative influence on the intensity of adoption. The results revealed that farm and farmer characteristics, economic, and institutional factors, and attributes of Bt cotton are found to be determinants of the adoption of Bt cotton. The study recommends that the public and private sectors promote access to extension services, markets, and credit to improve the uptake of Bt cotton in Kenya.

Structural Characteristics of Sheep and Goat Husbandry in Çorum Province

The aim of the study is to determine the structural characteristics of sheep and goat farm in Çorum province, the problems faced by breeders and to offer solutions to these problems. The material for the study consisted of data obtained through personal interviews in 140 sheep and goat farms in the districts of Çorum province. In the study, it was determined that the breeders were mostly between 41-50 years old, their education level was secondary school (55.7%), the number of family members was 3-4 and their experience in the profession was 21-30 years. In the study, it was determined that females were used for breeding for 4-5 years and males for 3 years. It was determined that animal records were generally not kept on the farm and the need for shepherds in the family was met from the family (64.3%). In conclusion in addition to the problems of marketing and insufficient pastures, breeders also lack knowledge about cultivation and health protection and the potential in the region is not adequately reflected in production. In order to overcome these problems, it is necessary to increase and continue the support for the development of sheep and goat husbandry, improve health protection and social rights and encourage young people in particular.

Leveraging milk mid-infrared spectroscopy to authenticate animal welfare, farming practices, and dairy systems of Parmigiano Reggiano cheese.

Increasing consumer concerns underscore the importance of verifying the practices and origins of food, especially certified premium products. The aim of this study was to evaluate the ability of Fourier-transform mid-infrared (FT-MIR) spectroscopy to authenticate animal welfare parameters, farming practices, and dairy systems. Data on farm characteristics were obtained from the Parmigiano Reggiano Consortium in northern Italy. Animal welfare data were collected by trained veterinarians using the assessment protocol developed by the Italian National Reference Center for Animal Welfare (CREnBA), while bulk milk test-day data were obtained from the laboratory of the Breeders Association of the Emilia Romagna Region (ARAER). A merged final data set of 12,083 bulk FT-MIR spectra records from 949 farms was created. Using a non-hierarchical clustering approach, the farms were classified into 5 dairy systems: 2 'traditional' systems, comprising farms located in either the Apennines or the Po Plain, and 2 'modern' systems, those that used TMR and that did not; a further 'traditional' dairy system was identified comprising farms rearing local breeds. To evaluate the ability of bulk milk to capture differences in farming systems, we conducted an ANOVA on milk composition. The linear models included the following effects: season, dairy system, farm, and the interaction between dairy system and season. The effect of the dairy system was significant for all milk composition traits. A 10-iteration linear discriminant analysis (LDA) was used to evaluate the discriminative ability of the spectra in classifying farming practices and dairy systems. The average results of the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC-AUC) revealed good authentication performance for genetic type (0.98), housing system (0.91), and feeding system (0.89), medium-low authentication performance for geographical area (0.70), while poor results were obtained for the percentage of concentrate in the diet and animal welfare parameters (0.57 - 0.64). With regard to dairy systems, the best result was obtained when dairy systems were grouped into 2 simplified categories, 'traditional' vs 'modern' (0.89), instead of the 5 categories (0.87). The results of this study show that FT-MIR is a useful tool for authenticating farming practices and dairy systems, but not animal welfare as defined by CREnBA evaluation criteria. Our results show that infrared spectroscopy has the potential to authenticate dairy products and quality label certifications.

Analysis of Profitability in Good Agriculture Practices Based Vegetable Farming System in Mid-hill Region of Nepal

Implementing Good Agriculture Practices (GAP) impacts both the economic viability and sustainability of vegetable production. Since income significantly influences farmers' decisions to adopt GAP, understanding the profitability of following GAP is crucial for facilitating the transition from non-GAP to GAP. This study aimed to assess the profitability of GAP farms compared to non-GAP farms in three districts of the Kathmandu Valley: Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur. Altogether six farms, one GAP and one non-GAP farms from each district, were selected purposively. The GAP farms selected for this study were following GAP for more than five years. Primary data on farm characteristics were collected through pre-designed interview questionnaire. Profitability analysis of the selected farms was conducted using the Benefit-Cost Ratio (BCR). The farm characteristics showed that GAP farms prioritized reducing chemical fertilizers and pesticides, while non-GAP farms relied heavily on chemical inputs. The BCR revealed that despite higher fixed and variable costs in GAP farms higher gross and net returns were observed in these farms. The GAP farms were more profitable and sustainable compared to non-GAP farms in all three districts. The highest BCR of 1.52 was observed in the GAP farm in Kathmandu, followed by 1.41 in the GAP farm in Lalitpur, and 1.23 in the GAP farm in Bhaktapur. In contrast, lower BCRs were found in non-GAP farms: 1.04 in Bhaktapur, 0.95 in Kathmandu, and 0.72 in Lalitpur, indicating a loss in the latter two farms.

Farm Management and Socio-Economic Structure of Cattle Enterprises in Eastern Anatolia: A Case Study of Selim District, Kars Province

This study investigated the socio-economic characteristics of cattle farms in the Selim district of Kars province. A face-to-face survey was conducted with 350 cattle farm owners selected by random sampling method. Frequency analysis was used to interpret the data obtained. The majority of the farmers in the district were above 40 years of age, while the share of farmers younger than 40 years was only 19.7%. The share of the farmers with primary school (34.4%) or secondary school (33.5%) education was considerably high. A large majority of the farmers in the district had over (68.5%) 20 years of cattle farming experience while only 6.0% had less than 10 years of experience. It was found that 76.8% of the enterprises in the district had 5 or more people in the family. Crossbreds of European and indigenous cattle breeds were quite common (72.3%) in the district. Simmental was determined to be the most commonly raised European breed (44.8%). The 30.9% of enterprises had cattle between 20-30. The majority (50.6%) of the enterprises had 10-20 lactating cows. It was found that 50.9% of the farmers engage in both meat and milk production in their enterprises, while 48.0% engage solely in milk production. It was determined that 52.0% of the enterprise owners in the district were members of associations and cattle breeders' association was the most preferred (90%) among the farmers. High feed prices (98.3%) and diseases (33.1%) were indicated as the major problems by the farmers. In addition, credit support (88.3%), supply of quality breeding stock animals (34%), veterinary services (39.4%) and support in marketing of the products obtained (25.1%) were the main expectations of the farmer from the government.

The Dairy Farming Future from Farmers' Perspectives in The Northern Region of Iraq

The main purpose of this study was to analyze dairy farmers' feelings of safety about the future of dairy farming in the northern region of Iraq and to investigate how environmental factors and demographic characteristics of dairy farms impact their sense of security. Primary data were collected from 280 dairy farmers in four provinces of northern Iraq: Erbil, Sulaymaniyah, Dohuk, and Halabja. Descriptive statistics, the Chi-square test, and binary logistic regression were employed for analysis. The results of binary logistic regression analysis indicated that age, gender, marital status, education, experience, and household size significantly influenced farmers’ perceptions of whether dairy farming could secure their future. Moreover, the binary logistic analysis revealed that five elements of dairy farming – technology, dairy farm structure, government policy, marketing, and extension – were significantly associated with farmers' perceptions of future security through dairy farming. However, the study concludes that to promote agricultural development at the macro level, it is essential to prioritize the provision of support services to farmers in policy formulation so that farmers can effectively leverage these services to enhance farm production and income levels.

Evaluation of factors associated with immunoglobulin, protein, fat and lactose concentrations in colostrum of dairy cows from Austria.

Calves rely on the passive transfer with immunoglobulins derived from colostrum. Currently, there is a lack of knowledge on colostrum management practices and colostrum quality on small scale family-owned dairy farms in Austria. The objectives of this study were to describe factors that are associated with immunoglobulin, protein, fat and lactose concentrations in dairy cow colostrum from the federal state of Salzburg. Therefore, an online questionnaire was designed to gather information on general farm characteristics. Further, the farmers collected individual colostrum samples and completed a detailed accompanying questionnaire for each sample. Immunoglobulin levels were determined by using a Brix refractometer and protein, fat and lactose by standardized laboratory methods. Linear mixed effect models were built to test factors associated with colostrum immunoglobulin, fat, protein and lactose concentrations. In total, 1,050 colostrum samples from 72 dairy farms were collected. The number of calvings per year was distributed as follows: ≤10 calvings: 8.3% of the farms, 11 to 20: 31.9%, 21 to 30: 29.2%, 31 to 40: 15.3% and ≥ 41 calvings: 15.3%. Overall, the median Brix value was 22.0% (7.3-36.1%). The number of samples with good and poor-quality colostrum was 517 and 528, respectively. Cow-level factors significantly affecting colostrum Brix% were parity, calving season, ante partum colostrum leakage, time lag between parturition and colostrum collection. In total, a subset of 307 colostrum samples from 39 farms from pure-breed dual-purpose Simmental cows were further analysed for protein, fat and lactose concentration. The median concentration for fat was 5.1% (0.5-18.5%), protein 14.6% (4.2-27.5%) and lactose 2.3% (0.2-5.0%). The cow-level factors affecting protein concentration were similar to the factors influencing Brix%. Fat concentration was influenced by the time lag between calving and colostrum collection and by parity. The present study confirmed the factors, which are currently known to have an impact on colostrum quality. This was the first large scale approach in the federal state of Salzburg to survey colostrum management including colostrum sample collection. The range of colostrum quality was wide (7.3% Brix to 36.1% Brix) therefore many calves will be at risk of receiving poor quality colostrum as defined by a Brix of ≤ 22%.

Characteristics of Russian poultry farms by diseases of different etiology

Industrial poultry farming is accompanied by various infectious and invasive diseases. They have a wide distribution and occupy a large share in the contagious pathology of birds, despite the measures of prevention and control taken by veterinary specialists, which negatively affects the epizootic situation in poultry farming. The article presents materials on retrospective analysis of morbidity of birds with infectious and invasive diseases for 5 years (2018-2022) in Russian poultry farms according to the data of the Ministry of Agriculture of the Russian Federation. During the study period, viral and bacterial diseases (avian influenza, colibacillosis, Newcastle disease, ornithosis, pseudomonosis, tuberculosis, pasteurellosis, salmonellosis, mycoplasmosis, typhus-pullorosis, infectious laryngotracheitis, avian infectious bronchitis, Marek’s disease) and parasitic and fungal diseases (coccidiosis, spirochetosis, sarcoptosis, nematodosis and aspergillosis) were registered. The highest number of sick poultry with viral diseases was recorded in 2021, bacterial diseases in 2018, and parasitic and fungal diseases in 2020, which amounted to 28.289, 15.778 and 0.036%, respectively. In regions with developed poultry farming it is necessary to assess the epizootic situation in order to determine the degree of epizootic risk in specific conditions, the level of potential epidemic threat of the most common zooanthroponotic diseases of birds and timely implement a set of measures to prevent and eliminate diseases in poultry farms.

The causal effect of agritourism on farm survival

We use three waves of census data containing detailed characteristics of the entire population of Austrian farms to examine the causal effect of agritourism on farm survival. To control for self-selection into agritourism, we exploit regional variation in tourism intensity that is exogenous to individual farms. On average, agritourism causally increases survival probabilities by 10.9 percentage points per decade, which is economically and statistically significant. Marginal effects differ by farm characteristics, reaching up to 15.3 percentage points for certain sub-populations. Consequently, policies that support entry into agritourism can be effective in keeping farms in the market and thus in preserving the tourist appeal of many rural regions. Our analysis indicates that the magnitude of the estimated coefficients is severely biased unless endogenous self-selection into agritourism is properly addressed. This underscores that even with large microdata sets, an appropriate identification strategy is critical to derive causal and thus policy-relevant conclusions.

Karakteristik Usahatani dan Tingkat Literasi Keuangan Petani Swadaya di Desa Belangin Kecamatan Kapuas Kabupaten Sanggau

Financial literacy helps independent smallholders make better financial decisions, while individual characteristics such as age, education, and experience affect financial literacy, which can improve the economic welfare of independent smallholders. Therefore, this study aimed to analyze the relationship between farming characteristics and the level of financial literacy in independent oil palm farmers. This study used a quantitative descriptive method. Primary and secondary data sources were analyzed using the Spearman rank test. The analysis results showed that education and land area had a significant positive relationship with the financial literacy of independent oil palm farmers, while age and farming experience had a significant negative relationship. Gender and number of dependents showed a weak and insignificant relationship. Education and larger land area tended to increase financial literacy, while age and experience did the opposite.

The Economic Viability of the Renewable Energy Systems in Agricultural Activities in Jordan

This study aimes to study the economic viability of using renewable energy sources in different agricultural farms and activities. The economic viability was investigated according to the farm activities, size, and type of renewable energy source. A cross-sectional study was used by questionnaire for data collection. The questionnaire included two parts; the first part covered farm characteristics, while the second one covered the economic viability of renewable energy systems in the agricultural business. The questionnaire was distributed to a random sample of 100 farmers in different areas. The collected questionnaires were isolated and analyzed using the R software. Descriptive and inferential analyses were used to obtain the final results of the study. The results showed that the use of renewable energy system is viable in the agricultural sector. The economic viability increases as the size of the farm increases. The results showed that the cost-benefit ratio, the net present value, and the internal rate of return were the highest for the farms of 500 dunums and more. Solar radiation was found as the viable source that is widely distributed among farmers, followed by wind energy, and the least was recorded for biomass energy. The results showed that renewable energy sources are not sufficient to cover farm energy needs. In addition, the use of renewable energy systems was more viable in animal production farms and farms practicing both animal and plant production processes. The use of renewable energy was economically viable with different levels in all farms in the agricultural business. The economic viability increases in farms with mixed animal and plant activities. The study recommended that the government encourage the use of renewable energy systems to increase the farms' energy independence and protect the environment.

From typology to criteria considered by farmers: what explains agroecological practice implementation in North-Sudanian Burkina Faso?

Cropping systems in the North-Sudanian zone of Burkina Faso face significant challenges related to poor yields, declining soil fertility and harsh climatic conditions. Together these necessitate a shift toward more sustainable farming practices. Agroecology aims to enhance yields while minimizing environmental harm through the use of ecological functions and has been promoted by researchers and farmers’ organizations as a solution. However, its implementation remains limited. This study investigated the criteria farmers consider when implementing agroecological practices at the farm level and how these criteria and their implementation are influenced by farm characteristics. Data collection methods included the serious game TAKIT, together with baseline and complementary household surveys (108 farmers each). Farm diversity was analyzed using a statistical typology. The influence of farm types, farm structural variables and the village location on (1) whether or not agroecological practices were implemented and (2) the criteria considered by farmers was explored. Four distinct farm types were identified: low resource endowed farms relying on off-farm income, low resource endowed farms relying on livestock income, medium resource endowed farms relying on agricultural and livestock income, and high resource endowed farms with diverse sources of income. There were no significant differences in the implementation of agroecological practices across farm types. Crop rotations were the most frequently implemented practice (by 91% of the study farmers), while the 2-by-2 line intercropping of sorghum-cowpea was the least implemented (9% of farmers). Implementation of zai pits varied significantly between villages, with farmers in Nagreonkoudogo more likely to use them than those in Tanvousse, due to differing soil characteristics. Farmers considered several criteria when deciding whether to implement agroecological practices, including the ability to improve yield and preserve soil. Constraints to their implementation included a lack of knowledge and their high labor requirements. These criteria did not differ across farm types, likely because they stem from shared environmental constraints or conditions. The study highlights the complexity of agroecological transitions in sub-Saharan Africa, and illustrates the need to adequately consider contextual conditions. The co-design of new practices, and the redesign of existing ones, should align with criteria considered by farmers.

The ethnic diversity of farmer groups in environmental management of lowland rice farming in Rias Village, Toboali District, South Bangka Regency

Abstract An increase in population quantity and community cultural diversity drives the need for the Bangka Belitung Islands Province to increase the productivity of the agricultural sector, especially rice as the main source of staple food. Not only is increasing the quantity of lowland rice production a measure of guaranteeing food security, but managing a healthy agricultural environment is also very important in achieving the sustainability target of national food security. What is unique is that the group of farmers in the rice production center of Bangka Belitung, namely Rias Village, Toboali District, South Bangka Regency, has a variety of cultures whose domicile is grouped based on ethnicity. This research was carried out to map the locus of lowland rice farmer groups based on ethnicity and describe the character of environmental management of lowland rice farming in the context of sustainable food security. The research method used was a survey of 60 rice farmers, mapping farmer group loci, and quantitative descriptive methods. The research results are depicted in a locus map of farmer groups of Bangka ethnic, Javanese, Bugis, and Sundanese ethnic groups. It was found that differences in the environmental management characteristics of lowland rice farming include: the selection of rice varieties, different agricultural practices, such as the use of organic fertilizer, traditional-based irrigation, crop rotation, cooperation patterns, and land ownership systems.

Assessing Commercial Sugarcane Irrigators’ Intentions to Adapt Water-Use Behaviour in Response to Climate Variability in South Africa

The scarcity of water resources in South Africa remains a considerable challenge for water users. This study evaluated the impact of climate variability on the adaptive water-use behaviour of sugarcane producers by identifying the factors influencing their adaptation decisions. A survey, the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB), and structural equation modelling (SEM) were used to achieve this objective. The study involved 54 sugarcane producers from the Impala Irrigation Scheme, selected through random sampling. Socio-economic profiles revealed a largely male, older demographic with varied education levels and farm characteristics. Results indicated that attitude (β = 0.349, p < 0.1) and subjective norms (β = 0.281, p < 0.05) significantly influenced farmers’ intentions to adapt, while perceived behavioural control had no significant effect (β = 0.051, p > 0.1). These findings suggest that improving farmers’ attitudes and strengthening social support systems can enhance their intentions to adopt adaptive strategies. However, the model’s explanatory power (R² = 0.276) suggests that other unexamined factors may also influence farmers’ adaptive intentions, highlighting the need for further research. Overall, our findings suggest that interventions targeting attitudes, social support, and resource access can improve adaptive behaviours.

Factors influencing the expressed willingness to transition from collection to cultivation of non-timber forest products: The case of Caesalpinia spinosa in southern Ecuador

Factors influencing the expressed willingness to transition from collection to cultivation of non-timber forest products: The case of Caesalpinia spinosa in southern Ecuador

Typology of Grasscutter (Thryonomys swinderianus) Farming in Southern Benin Two Decades after Its Domestication

Aims: The aim of the study was to provide information on the current characteristics of grasscutter farms in Benin to identify areas for improvement. Study Design: A survey was conducted among 100 grasscutter farmers in southern Benin, identifying three groups of farmers. Place and Duration of Study: Data were collected between August and October 2023 in the departments of Mono, Couffo, Atlantique, Ouémé, Plateau and Zou in southern Benin. Methodology: Data collection were carried out through a retrospective survey using the snowball sampling method. During the survey phase, farmers were selected based on the accessibility of their farms and their willingness to participate in the questionnaire. Data were analyzed using SAS software, and a multiple component analysis (MCA) was performed to identify the different groups of grasscutter farmers. Results: Three groups of farmers were identified. Women were absent in Group 1, less present in Group 2 (8.20%), and more represented in Group 3 (23.53%). The most common occupations among respondents across all three groups were in agriculture and livestock farming. However, farmers were less frequent in Group 3 (82.34%) compared to the other groups (100%) (p<0.05). Ground-enclosure farming was only reported in Group 1 (76.47%). In the other groups, farming is done on tiers in compartmentalized enclosures. The smallest herd size was observed in Group 3 (p<0.05). All respondents in groups 1 and 2 fed their animals with a mixture of forage and commercial feed, while 64.71% did so in Group 3 (p<0.05). Panicum maximum, Pennisetum purpureum, and Moringa oleifera are the most commonly used forages in grasscutter feeding. Grasscutters are sold live by all farmers in Groups 1 and 2 and by 88.24% in Group 3 (p<0.05). The age at the sale is similar in Groups 1 (4.70 months) and 2 (4.15 months) and higher in Group 3 (7.28 months) (p<0.001). The most frequent constraints in all three groups were difficulties in accessing forage and lack of financial resources. Conclusion: Harmonizing grasscutter farming practices could be a lever to promote grasscutter farming in Benin.