Résumé -La filière ananas est l'une des 13 filières agricoles prioritaires que le gouvernement du Bénin cherche à développer avec le soutien des partenaires techniques et financiers du pays. Sa croissance favorise l'amélioration des revenus de la population active rurale. La présente étude vise à mesurer l'efficacité technique des producteurs d'ananas. La méthode des frontières de production stochastiques a été appliquée à un échantillon représentatif de 135 exploitants membres du Réseau de producteurs d'ananas du Bénin (RéPAB). Les résultats montrent que, dans l'ensemble, les producteurs d'ananas ne sont pas efficaces techniquement. Le niveau moyen d'efficacité est de 67 %, montrant ainsi qu'il existe des possibilités d'amélioration de la production en utilisant les mêmes quantités de ressources que celles disponibles actuellement. Les producteurs les plus efficaces se trouvent parmi les producteurs qui respectent l'itinéraire technique recommandé. Les résultats montrent que la vulgarisation de l'information technique doit être complétée par des appuis pouvant amener les producteurs à mettre en oeuvre convenablement l'itinéraire technique recommandé, notamment l'accès aux intrants de bonne qualité. Mots clés : ananas / efficacité technique / intrants / frontière stochastique / BéninAbstract -Technical efficiency of small-scale pineapple production in Benin. Pineapple is one of the 13 agricultural crops selected to receive increased interventions from the Government and donors in the coming years in Benin. Increased pineapple production can contribute to raise incomes in rural areas. This study aims at estimating pineapple producers' technical efficiency in Benin. The stochastic production frontier approach is applied to a sample consisting of 135 small-scale producers, affiliated to the pineapple growers' association in Benin, RéPAB. The results show that the average producer is technically inefficient. The average level of efficiency is 67%, indicating that current production levels can be significantly increased without changing the levels of available resources. Technical efficiency is high among producers who are able to apply the recommended technology, but this is a small category in the study sample. The results reveal that access to technical information is useful but needs to be complemented by policy measures facilitating the application of the recommended technology, namely access to good quality inputs.

The study examines economies of scale and sources of total factor productivity growth on poultry farms producing table eggs in Benin Republic. We use panel data on commercial poultry farms from 2010 to 2018, and the flexible translog production functions to estimate a stochastic frontier and economies of scale. The results showed that there were significant economies of scale to be exploited, and the average productivity growth rate was decreasing of 5.09% over the study period. This deterioration was mainly because of the decline of technical efficiency growth rate (2.16%) and technology growth rate (2.67%). Although the returns to scale (1.31) were increasing, their effects on productivity during the study period were negative (−0.74%). As implications, policy makers may encourage the increasing of the “size” of poultry farms and act on the sources of productivity growth identified in this study to increase the productivity of commercial poultry farms to meet the demand of table egg in Benin.

REMERCIEMENTS Le recensement national des pisciculteurs au Bénin a été financé par le Projet d'Appui à la Diversification Agricole (PADA). Nous adressons nos sincères remerciements aux responsables du projet qui ont conçu et organisé ce recensement. RESUMEAu Bénin, la production halieutique ne permet pas de couvrir les besoins du pays. Le déficit est comblé par des importations sans cesse croissantes de poissons congelés. Par ailleurs, on assiste à une surexploitation des plans et cours d'eau, à de mauvaises pratiques de pêche qui accentuent la diminution de la production dans les différentes pêcheries. Dans ces conditions, la pisciculture apparaît comme une alternative pour réduire les importations et diversifier les sources de revenus en milieu rural. Ces dernières années, beaucoup de jeunes investissent dans la pisciculture. La présente étude vise à mesurer l'efficacité technique des pisciculteurs du Bénin. La méthode des frontières de production stochastiques a été appliquée à un échantillon aléatoire de 649 exploitants piscicoles. Les résultats de l'étude montrent que le niveau actuel de production est de 922 kg par an par pisciculteur, en moyenne. L'efficacité technique est de 46%. Si les erreurs de management sont corrigées, avec les mêmes quantités de ressources, la production annuelle par pisciculteur peut atteindre 1320 kg, soit un accroissement de 43%. La plupart des facteurs susceptibles d'améliorer l'efficacité technique ont un lien avec les capacités techniques et managériales des pisciculteurs. L'étude conclut qu'une partie substantielle des ressources prévues pour la promotion de la pisciculture au Bénin devra être allouée au renforcement des activités de formation au profit des pisciculteurs au lieu de focaliser l'attention uniquement sur l'accroissement des aménagements piscicoles. © 2017 International Formulae Group. All rights reserved.Mots clés: pisciculture, efficacité technique, frontière de production stochastique, Bénin.Technical efficiency in fish farming and its determinants: the case of Benin ABSTRACT In Benin, fish production is lower than the country's consumption needs. The deficit is filled by ever increasing imports of frozen fish. In addition, overexploitation of water bodies and improper fishing practices are now widespread in the country and this accentuates the decrease of the production in the various fisheries. Fish farming can contribute to reduce the imports and induce income diversification in rural areas. In recent years, there has been an increase in the investments by young people in fish farming in Benin. This study aimed at measuring the technical efficiency of Benin's fish farms. The stochastic frontier production was applied to a random sample of 649 fish farms. The results show that the average annual fish production per C.S. KPENAVOUN et al. / Int. J. Biol. Chem. Sci. 11(5): 2194-2208, 2017 2195 farm is 922 kg in Benin. The mean technical efficiency score is 46%. If technical inefficiency is removed, using the same level of resources, annual fish production per ...

Impact du conseil agricole privé sur l'efficacité technique des petits producteurs d'ananas au Bénin The impact of cooperative-led agricultural advisory services on the technical efficiency of small-scale pineapple producers in Benin

This study aims to analyze the factors that influence the preference of producers and processors for paddy production contracts in Benin. Unlike previous research, this study estimates a global model using pooled data of producers and processors. In addition, it compares producers’ willingness to accept contracts’ attributes to processors willingness to pay for the same attributes. Data were collected in Benin from 300 producers and 140 processors of rice selected randomly. An estimation of the conditional logit model indicates that producers prefer contracts specifying cash payment, prefinancing, and quality agreement. Processors, on the other hand, prefer contracts specifying technical assistance for both harvest and all the production activities, and quality agreements. The latent class logit model shows that there is heterogeneity among the preferences of both producers and processors across the classes. However, producers prefer cash payment and processors assistance for harvesting across all the classes. This suggests that cash payment and assistance for harvesting are pivotal for contract selection by producers and processors, respectively. Producers are willing to accept a lower price for their paddy (reduction of 25.86 and 6.64 FCFA/kg) in exchange for specifying a cash payment mechanism and prefinancing in the contract. Processors are willing to pay an additional amount of 5.58 CFA/kg of paddy to secure good quality rice.

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In southern Benin, the rapid growth of demographics and the need for fishery products have forced public managers to adopt various management measures in the face of anti-ecological methods used by fishers; however, these strategies are often formulated independent from the context. These measures have not remained without consequence on the daily lives of fishers. This paper examines factors influencing fishers’ individual perceived wellbeing satisfaction using the social-ecological system framework. Data on 205 small-scale fishers’ demographic information, perception of job, and individual wellbeing satisfaction and governance subsystems were collected and analysed by the use of an ordered logistic regression. The results demonstrate that job satisfaction and ownership of water bodies (in contradiction to Ostrom’s advocation for commons management) affected fishers’ individual perceived wellbeing satisfaction. Fishers likely value ownerships, affecting their perceived wellbeing mainly in the South East. The prohibition of certain fishing gear decreases fishers’ individual perceived wellbeing, indicating their attachment to these. Therefore, the question remains as to whether or not the scenarios of eco-sustainability of artisanal fisheries can be managed in the same manner as those related urban dwellers and the public sector. This is in particular reference to the line between urban land property rights, urban dwellers and the state, and property rights on water bodies, fishers, and the state.

Seed is one of the key inputs for rice production. The quantity of rice seeds produced is largely below the demand expressed by rice producers in Benin. In recent years, several projects have been implemented to promote this activity. A one stage stochastic frontier production which incorporates a model for the technical inefficiency effects was applied on a whole population of 141 farmers identified in the irrigated site of Koussin-Lélé, Benin. The result showed that the technical efficiency ranged from 69% and 99% with the mean of 92%. The most efficient producers had the best yields, 5,096 kg/ha comparable to the experimental potential yields estimated at 4,800 to 5,000 kg/ha in a controlled peasant environment. Farmers who exercise the multiplication of rice seeds as their main activity educated producers and those who are often in contact with agricultural advisers are the most technically efficient. Therefore, the current institutional environment is favorable to rice seed farmers in the study area. The undertaken actions implemented in recent years must be continued and strengthened. The content of the extension should also be focused on appropriate techniques of fertilization and/or restoration of soil fertility to prevent the misuse of mineral fertilizers. Special attention should be given to the producers in the village, Lélé, to help them improve their technical efficiency.