African Livestock Production (Science focus - Agri/Animal Science) | 04 October 2009
Integrated Farming Systems for Resource-Poor Farmers in Benin: A Case Study
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Abstract
Benin's agricultural sector faces challenges in resource use efficiency among smallholder farmers. Agricultural assessments, participatory rural appraisal methods, and farmer field schools were used to design and test IFS models. Data was collected through surveys and interviews over two years. The integrated systems showed an average yield increase of 20% in maize production compared to conventional practices, with variability among different farming contexts. IFS significantly improved resource utilization efficiency and farmer income by integrating crop-livestock and tree-based components. Promote IFS adoption through policy support, capacity building, and community engagement programmes. The empirical specification follows $Y=\beta_0+\beta^\top X+\varepsilon$, and inference is reported with uncertainty-aware statistical criteria.