Title: Economic valuation of maize farming profitability under climate change adaptation in Benin, West Africa

Authors: Rosaine N. Yegbemey; Jacob A. Yabi; Ghislain D.B. Aïhounton; Sènakpon E.H. Kokoye

Addresses: Institute of Project and Regional Planning, Faculty of Agriculture, Nutrition, and Environmental Management, Justus-Liebig University of Giessen, Senckenbergstrasse 3, D-35390 Giessen, Germany; Unité de Recherche en Economie et Développement (URED), Laboratoire d'Analyse et de Recherches sur les Dynamiques Economiques et Sociales (LARDES), Département d'Economie et Sociologie Rurales, Faculté d'Agronomie, Université de Parakou, BP 123, Parakou, Benin ' Unité de Recherche en Economie et Développement (URED), Laboratoire d'Analyse et de Recherches sur les Dynamiques Economiques et Sociales (LARDES), Département d'Economie et Sociologie Rurales, Faculté d'Agronomie, Université de Parakou, BP 123, Parakou, Benin ' Unité de Recherche en Economie et Développement (URED), Laboratoire d'Analyse et de Recherches sur les Dynamiques Economiques et Sociales (LARDES), Département d'Economie et Sociologie Rurales, Faculté d'Agronomie, Université de Parakou, BP 123, Parakou, Benin ' Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology, College of Agriculture, Auburn University, 310 Comer Hall, AL 36849, USA

Abstract: The major attempt of this paper is to analyse the profitability of maize farming in relation with observed climate change adaptation strategies. The study was conducted in Benin by a survey method on 336 maize producers. About 91% of the respondents undertook at least one adaptation strategy towards climate change. The observed strategies were categorised in four groups, including crop diversification, farming practices and calendar adjustment, land use strategies, and other adaptations (e.g. prayers, credit, and migration). Maize farming in the study zone was found to be profitable. Yet, the economic performances recorded by farmers were correlated with some of the climate change adaptation strategies. Crop diversification strategy was found as the most interesting adaptation to improve the farm economic profitability. Hence, research institutes and policy makers should work for providing crop varieties better adapted to climate change, especially to drier conditions, as to facilitate crop diversification behaviour among farmers.

Keywords: adaptation strategies; Benin; climate change; economic valuation; profitability; maize farming; crop diversification; agriculture.

DOI: 10.1504/IJARGE.2014.064006

International Journal of Agricultural Resources, Governance and Ecology, 2014 Vol.10 No.3, pp.269 - 280

Published online: 22 Oct 2014 *

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