Major crops and their
regional distribution in Benin
E. van den Akker
Department of Agricultural Economics in the Tropics and Subtropics (490B), University of Hohenheim, 70593 Stuttgart, Germany, Tel.: 0049/711/4593392, Fax: 0049/711/4593762, email: vdakker@uni-hohenheim.de
Keywords: Benin, crops, cropping pattern,
cotton, agro-ecological zones
1 Aims of the research
The study focuses on the regional distribution
of major agricultural crops and their share in the cropping patterns of
agro-ecological zones. In addition, it visualizes the yield of cotton as
major cash crop at the level of "sousprefectures" and the total area of
cotton production at the level of agro-ecological zones. Map
1 offers a quick overview of the agricultural plant production pattern
of Benin after the currency devaluation in 1994.
Given its natural conditions, Benin can be divided into six different vegetation zones with four main zones (Bohlinger, 1998) and two subzones (Wezel, 1999). Each zone is characterized by a specifically composed vegetation associated with prevalent soil types and climatic conditions.
Benin has six departments each of which consists of several "sousprefectures" as smallest administrative units. At this level statistical data about the agricultural production and population are available. However, departments and vegetation zones are only loosely corresponding. Borgou as one department comprises several vegetation zones whereas Mono, Atlantique and Ouémé form together mainly two vegetation zones.
To generate more congruence between administrative areas and vegetation zones for agricultural extension and political decision purposes, the Ministry of Rural Development (MDR) defined eight agro-ecological zones (MDR, 1998), comprising "sousprefectures" as the smallest unit having relatively homogenous soil and climatic conditions and providing statistical data (see Table 1). A comparison of the agro-ecological zones with the topography (elevation) map shows a relatively close relation between landscape units and zones (Wezel, 1999). Differences arise from the use of "sousprefecture" (administrative) borders to outline natural landscape units. At village level statistical data are not available. Data on the cultivated area of the main food and cash crops, yields and the resulting production per season at "sousprefecture" level are annually published by the MDR.
For a presentation of the characteristic cropping pattern of each agro-ecological zone, the eight major food and cash crops were chosen, i.e. maize, sorghum (together with millet) and rice as cereals, cassava and yams as tubers, beans and peanuts as legumes and cotton as fiber and major cash crop. Averages of the area under cultivation were calculated for the three production years 1994/95 to 1996/97 at the level of "sousprefectures" and then aggregated to the level of agro-ecological zones. This aggregation avoids the bias of underestimating the contribution from larger "sousprefectures".
The share of each major crop in the cropping
pattern (percentage of total area cultivated) is depicted in a segment
diagram for each agro-ecological zone. With respect to the importance of
cotton as the major cash crop which gains the highest inputs, one column
was added showing the area under cotton (in ha). The average yield was
calculated at the level of "sousprefectures". Average yields are in a range
between 0 and 1500 kg ha-1. The yield level of the other crops as well
as additional diagrams are provided in the data section.
The agro-ecological zones can be roughly grouped following their natural conditions (map 1). In the north, there are two zones with lesser favorable conditions for agricultural production (Zone Extrême Nord Bénin (1) and Zone Ouest Atacora (4)) and two zones with favorable production conditions (Zone Cotonnière du Nord Bénin (2) and Zone Vivrière du Sud Borgou (3)). All are characterized by one cropping season per year and by a relatively low population density between 12 and 33 inhabitants per km² (see Table 2). In the center, one large zone with favorable production conditions is found (Zone Cotonnière du Center Bénin (5)), also characterized by one cropping season and a low population density with 28 inhabitants per km². The south (compare map 3 and map 4) has one zone with a high production potential (Zone de la Depression (8)), one zone with a medium production potential (Zone des Terres de Barre (6)) and one zone with a low production potential (Zone des Pêcheries (7)). All these are characterized by two cropping seasons and a high population density, reaching from 135 inhabitants per km² in Zone 8, 267 inhabitants per km² in zone 6 to 416 inhabitants per km² in Zone 7 (including the urban population). In the north and in the center arable land is still available which is not yet under cultivation implying that here extended fallow-periods exist. In the south all arable land is under cultivation and therefore a very high land-use ratio is prevailing. This is 1.4 years of mainly palm-based fallow to 1 year of cultivation (van den Akker, 1998).
In total, an average of 1.4 Mio ha land has been planted under the eight major crops between 1994/95 and 1996/97 (without differentiating between first and second season in the south).
The segment diagrams show for each agro-ecological zone its typical cropping pattern and thus offer a quick orientation about the relative importance of the major crops. However, the picture is hiding the dynamics of changes in the area under cultivation of the different crops. The agricultural crop production in Benin flexibly reacts to changing economic or institutional conditions because of the liberalized marketing chain of all food crops. Therefore, additional data and diagrams are provided in the data section.
The map provides only data on the major crops throughout the whole country. Typical crops of smaller areas like onions in the north or tomatoes in the south are not considered. In the following, the different products and their regional relevance are discussed.
For cotton the yield ranges and their regional distribution indicate the agro-ecological zones with their differing production potential. In the north and center, the zones 2, 3 and 5 are characterized by a high yield potential, a high percentage of cotton in the cropping pattern (38, 30 and 24 % respectively) and an area of more than 70,000 ha per zone cultivated under cotton. These three zones form the main cotton belt, followed the northern part with around 20,000 ha of cotton in zone 6. The south is too humid for cotton production. However, due to the organized marketing chain for inputs and output of the cotton production, cotton is appreciated by the farmers. In all zones, a strong expansion of the area under cotton can be observed since 1994 due to the devaluation with its positive effects on the competitiveness of Benin's cotton market and the fixed, relatively high cotton producer prices (compare map 2 and map 4).
A detailed map of southern Benin with the lowest range of cotton yields shows here cotton is grown although the production itself is not anymore profitable. One major reason for this situation might be the possible cashless access to inputs for cotton producers, especially to mineral fertilizer afterwards being used for food crops instead of cotton.
Among cereals, maize is the major crop. Its large number of varieties allows production under climatic conditions reaching from subhumid to semi-arid. While maize is grown in all parts of the country, its share in the rotation differs from region to region depending on local consumption patterns and comparative advantages of other products. In the north, maize has a share of 9 % in zone 1 and zone 4 whereas it reaches 18 % and 23 % in the favorable northern zones 2 and 3. Southwards, the percentage of maize in the cropping pattern increases. In central Benin (zone 5) it reaches 26 % and it takes more than half of the area cultivated in the south (55 % in zone 6, over 60 % in zone 7, 73 % in zone 8). Especially in zone 2, 3 and 5 the temporal development shows a steadily increasing area under maize. This is mainly due to two reasons. Maize follows cotton utilizing the after-effects of mineral fertilizer and maize is planted as cash crop for selling it predominantly to the south (see van den Akker). In the south, especially in zone 6 and 7, the area under maize is constant or declining because of the lack of arable land not yet under cultivation. However, degraded areas under maize following over-exploitation are increasingly used for cassava-production which has less soil fertility requirements (compare local maize and improved maize).
In the north, sorghum has the highest percentage in the cropping pattern of the two zones with less favorable conditions for agricultural production (zone 1 and 4 with 58 % and 43 % respectively). In the zones with favorable production conditions (zone 2 and 3) the share of sorghum is still high with 25 % and 17 % respectively. In the center of Benin, the relevance of sorghum is decreasing (zone 5 with 5 %) and in the south sorghum is not anymore planted because of excess humidity. Although the absolute area under sorghum cultivation in all zones remains more or less the same over time, its percentage is decreasing due to the expansion of the total cultivation area.
The percentage of rice in the cropping pattern of all zones is very low even though in most zones the climatic conditions would allow dry rice production. Rice is considered as a luxury good in the consumption patterns (Abele, 1996), but so far, the preference for rice produced in Benin is below that of rice imported from Asian countries. Efficient production techniques and know-how as well as the necessary processing equipment after harvest are not sufficiently available (MDR, 1994). After devaluation, the rice production in Benin experienced a boost due to the price differences resulting in an increase of the total area under rice of around 5,800 ha in Benin (from 8,400 ha in 1993 to 14,200 ha in 1997). Looking at the cropping pattern of each agro-ecological zone, the share of rice ranges between 0 and 4 %.
Among tubers, cassava has the highest importance. Whereas it is scarcely found in the drier north, its percentage in the cropping pattern is increasing with humidity from the center to the south. In zone 5 it reaches a share of 13 %, in zone 6, 7 and 8 the percentage is 19 %, 22 % and 14 % respectively. As already explained, cassava often follows maize on degraded soils. Since the tuber contains the toxic hydrocyanic acid, processing is necessary before consumption. In the southern part of the center and in the south, processing of cassava tubers into gari (meal) and tapioca (stark) generates off-farm income. An important quantity of gari is traded to the neighboring countries. As cassava tubers can be kept in the soil over several months, it is often used as food reserve on the local market (Beck, 1995). Because of the relatively low price and the easy preparation of gari and tapioca, it is important in the consumption pattern especially of the low-income population.
Yams is the main tuber in the north and in the center of Benin due to the given production conditions. It requires good soil conditions and is preferably produced on cleared land. It is not found in zone 1. In the other northern zones 2,3 and 4 it reaches a share of 6 %, 18 % and 20 % respectively. In the center, in zone 5 it has still 12 %, whereas in the southern zones the percentage is between 0 and 1 %. Yams can be directly consumed and is appreciated as food crop all over the country.
Among legumes, the importance of beans
and peanuts in the cropping pattern
is about equal. In the crop rotation, both are appreciated for improving
soil fertility. While beans are mainly produced for home consumption or
the local market, peanuts are also a cash crop for oil production. In the
north, the cropping patterns of all zones have a share of beans between
3 % and 9 % and of peanuts between 3 % and 11 %. Taking both leguminous
plants together, zone 1 and 4 with less favorable production conditions
have a share of 14 % and 16 % respectively, whereas zone 2 and 3 have a
share of only 11 and 7 %. In zone 5 beans reach a percentage of 10 % and
peanuts of 9 %. In the south, the highest percentage is found in zone 6
with 6 % and 12 % followed by zone 7 with 11 % and 4 % for beans and peanuts
respectively. Zone 8 has a relatively small share of legumes in the cropping
pattern with 4 % of beans and peanuts each.
Benin shows a varied production pattern in line with its differing climatic conditions reaching from subhumid in the south to semi-arid in the north. Except for the south, in other areas arable land is still available. In a year with average production conditions, the output of the food crop production is self-sufficient. However, because of lack of data it is difficult to estimate the available area of arable land not yet under cultivation or fallow.
So far, crop production in Benin is characterized by low input use for food crops and moderate input use for cotton production. Under these conditions any increase in production would require an increase of the cultivated area. Comparing the low yield on farmers field with the higher yield obtained under research conditions on farmers field, there is still a high production potential available in case that the production management would be optimal and inputs for food crops would be available and used.
Regarding the share of the different products in the cropping pattern, in some regions an imbalance can be found having negative effects on soil fertility. In the north, cotton prevails. Especially in zone 2, cotton area exceeds the limit (one third) recommended by the extension service. In the south, maize covers up to three forth of the cultivated land without input use or a sufficient fallow period resulting in an accelerating soil degradation. Mainly local maize varieties are used because of their high adaptation to the production and climatic conditions. Improved varieties have higher yields (see Table 4) but need external inputs (fertilizer, pesticides).
Apart from improving the production output,
the availability of food crops for consumption or interregional trade could
be increased by minimizing the very high processing and storage losses.
Abele, S. (1996): Die Auswirkung der Devaluierung des Franc CFA auf ausgewählte Agrarmärkte in Benin. Diploma thesis, University of Hohenheim.Akker, van den E. (1998): Benin: Einsatz technischer und institutioneller Innovationen in der kleinbäuerlichen Landwirtschaft. In: Technischer Fortschritt im Spannungsfeld von Ernährungssicherung und Ressourcenschutz. Tropentag 1997. Universität Hohenheim.
Beck, K.V. (1995): Die Vermarktung von Grundnahrungsmitteln in Benin. Eine Bestandsaufnahme des interregionalen Handels vor und nach der politischen Liberalisierung. Dissertation, University of Hoheheim, Stuttgart.
Bohlinger, B. (1998): Die spontane Vegetation in traditionellen Anbausystemen Benins – ihre Bedeutung und Möglichkeiten des Managements. PLITS 1998/16(1).
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MDR (1998): Annuaire Statistique. Campagne 1997-98. Tome 1: Production végétale. Cotonou, Benin.
Brüntrup, M. (1997): Agricultural Price Policy and its Impact on Production, Income, Employment and the Adoption of Innovations. A Farming Systems Based Analysis of Cotton Policy in Northern Benin. Lang, Frankfurt.Floquet, A. (1998): Des Paysans en Mal d’Alternatives. Dégradation des terres, restructuration de l’espace agraire et urbanisation au bas Bénin. Margraf Verlag, Weikersheim.
Devolving Farm Services in Benin
Figure 1: Benin: Development of yield1) of major crops per agro-ecological zone and year since 1987
Development of yield of major
crops1) per agro-ecological zone between 1987 and 1997
1) Covering at least 1%
of the area under production
Map1 : Regional distribution of major crops in Benin (per agro-ecological zone)
Map2 : Cotton yield per agro-ecological zone (on sousprefecture level)
Map3 : Overview of southern Benin - agro-ecological zones
Map4 : Southern Benin - detailed view of cotton yield (on sousprefecture level)
Table 1: Agro-ecological zones of Benin with subprefectures
Table 2: Agro-ecological zones, total area, population and population density