A geospatial dataset of inland valleys in four zones in Benin, Sierra Leone and Mali

Abstract

The dataset described in this data article represents four agricultural zones in West-Africa that are located in three countries: Benin, Mali and Sierra Leone. The dataset was created through a research collaboration between the Africa Rice Center (AfricaRice), Sierra Leone Agricultural Research Institute (SLARI) and the Institute for Rural Economy (IER). The dataset was compiled to investigate the potential for rice production in inland valleys of the three countries. The results of the investigation were published in Dossou-Yovo et al. (2017) and Djagba et al. (2018). The dataset describes the biophysical and socioeconomic conditions of 499 inland valleys in the four agricultural zones. In each inland valley data were collected through a focus group interview with a minimum of three farmers. In 499 interviews a total of 7496 farmers participated. The location of each inland valley was determined with handheld GPS devices. The geographic locations were used to extract additional parameters from digital maps on soils, elevation, population density, rainfall, flow accumulation, and distances to roads, market places, rice mills, chemical input stores, and settlements. The dataset contains 65 parameters in four themes (location, biophysical characteristics, socioeconomic characteristics, and inland valley land development and use). The GPS coordinates indicate the location of an inland valley, but they do not lead to the location of individual fields of farmers that were interviewed. The dataset is publicly shared as Supplementary data to this data article.

Mapping suitability for rice production in inland valley landscapes in Benin and Togo using environmental niche modeling

“…The data collected includes geolocation, biophysical and socioeconomic characteristics as well as management practices resulting in N50 variables in the dataset. The structure of the dataset and the and variables in the dataset have been previously described by Djagba et al (2019) and Dossou-Yovo et al (2018).…”

“…The surveys were conducted in 408 and 436 IVs respectively in Togo and Benin. The dataset was complemented with IVs data by Djagba et al (2019) containing similar information. The database resulted in an occurrence of 1091 IVs.…”

Climate change-induced reduction in agricultural land suitability of West-Africa's inland valley landscapes

“…and farm management practices (crop other than rice, total inland valley used for rice, yield in the previous years, mode of exploitation of the inland valleys, water management practices, etc.). The structure of the dataset, which contains more than 50 variables was previously published by Djagba et al (2019), and the dataset was used to define the predictors that define the potential of inland valleys for rice production (Djagba et al, 2018). The final database contained 408 and 436 inland valleys where rice was grown under rainfed conditions, respectively in Togo and Benin.…”

A geospatial database of drought occurrence in inland valleys in Mali, Burkina Faso and Nigeria

“… The dataset can be deployed to assess the impacts of drought on rice production, to classify farmers management approaches to mitigate drought in inland valleys, to characterize the diversity of inland valleys based on biophysical and socio-economic characteristics, to analyze suitability of inland valleys for rice-based production systems, etc. The data can be linked to similar surveys conducted in Benin, Liberia and Sierra Leone [1] , [2] , [3] to analyze the determinants of farmers decision-making with respect to agricultural use of inland valleys in West Africa. The dataset contributes to spatial assessment of agricultural drought and to food security research in West Africa.…”

“…The data can be linked to similar surveys conducted in Benin, Liberia and Sierra Leone [1] , [2] , [3] to analyze the determinants of farmers decision-making with respect to agricultural use of inland valleys in West Africa.…”