Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA): An Alternative to Relief for Producers in Southeastern Benin

Abstract

Climate variability represents a major challenge for rain-fed agricultural production systems in southeastern Benin. This study analyses the relationships between climate variability, agro-climatic constraints, and crop production and examines potential adaptation and environmental sustainability options within the framework of Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA). The methodological approach combines long-term rainfall data from Météo-Bénin, agricultural statistics from the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries (MAEP) for the period 1995–2018, demographic and socio-economic data from the 2013 Population and Housing Census, and field surveys conducted among 205 farming households. The results show marked interannual rainfall variability, with 50% of the years analysed classified as dry, 38.16% as wet, and 11.84% as normal. However, no consistent relationship was found between annual rainfall totals and interannual variations in maize, cassava, cowpea, and groundnut yields. Crop performance appears to be more closely associated with rainfall distribution during the growing season and with the occurrence of critical events such as dry spells, delayed onset and early cessation of the rainy season, floods, and high-temperature events at sensitive stages of crop development. Farmers’ perceptions support this interpretation: delayed onset of the rainy season was the most frequently reported climatic constraint (25%), followed by early cessation of rainfall (20%). These disturbances can induce water stress and disrupt cropping calendars and crop development, thereby contributing to production losses and reduced farm income, with potential consequences for household food security. Adaptation options include the use of improved varieties (short-cycle and/or drought- and disease-resistant varieties), soil mulching (using crop residues or polyethylene film), and the Improved Production System (IPS)—involving crop sequencing and rotation—as well as sowing management (re-sowing, overseeding, stale seedbed techniques, dry sowing, and adjusting sowing dates). Agroforestry, capacity building for family farmers, and climate micro-insurance and safety nets for Climate-Smart Agriculture constitute the main mitigation measures in southern Benin. Overall, the results highlight the importance of combining climatic observations with farmers’ local knowledge to identify critical agro-climatic events better and support locally appropriate Climate-Smart Agriculture strategies.