Use and constraints on the use of inland valley ecosystems in central Benin: Results from an inland valley survey

Abstract

This paper assesses the current use and constraints on the use of inland valleys in central Benin are assessed to analyse their agro-potential. The methodology applied in this study is comprised of a survey of local authorities and inland valley users conducted with standardised questionnaires and the mapping of inland valley surfaces with GPS. The questionnaire contains questions to socioeconomic aspects such as access to an inland valley, land tenure, current use, use constraints as well as questions to physical properties such as soil quality. In addition to the assessment of the inland valley surface area, this approach enabled a detailed socioeconomic and rough physical characterization of all detected inland valleys. In total, 817 inland valleys were surveyed in this study. The local population currently uses sixty-seven percent of the valleys, primarily for crop cultivation. In most cases, only a small part of each surveyed inland valley is used. The intensity of exploitation varies across communes and across seasons. Especially in the more densely populated communes of Djougou and Parakou, where the upland soils are often degraded and arable land has become scarce in recent years, the use of inland valleys is greater than in less populated communes. This exploitation occurs primarily during the rainy season, and only a few farmers cultivate crops during the dry season. This study revealed high unused agro-potential in the inland valleys of central Benin. The main reason why inland valleys in the study area currently remain unexploited is a lack of experience in cultivating wetland. In fact, for more than 60% of the unused inland valleys, the local farmers claim to have no knowledge of which crops are adapted to seasonally waterlogged and swampy land or how to cultivate such crops. Due to climate change and population growth, the agricultural use of inland valleys in this region could become more important in the future. To ensure effective use, farmers should be supported by the regional agricultural organisation CeRPA (Centres Régionaux pour la Promotion Agricol) or development organisations to improve the knowledge of cultivation methods and inland valley management. Zusammenfassung: In diesem Artikel werden die aktuelle Nutzung und die Probleme der Nutzung von �lachmuldent�-In diesem Artikel werden die aktuelle Nutzung und die Probleme der Nutzung von �lachmuldent�lern (inland valleys) in Zentralbenin basierend auf einer standardisierten Befragung der lokalen Bevölkerung und einer GPS-Kartierung analysiert. Der �ragebogen enth�lt sowohl �ragen zu sozio-ökonomischen Aspekten wie Zugang zum inland valley, Landrechten, aktuelle Nutzung, Probleme der Nutzung etc. als auch �ragen zu physischen Eigenschaften wie z.B. Bodenqualit�t. Mit diesem Ansatz konnten neben der reinen Erfassung der inland valley �l�che auch eine umfassende sozioökonomische und eine grobe physische Charakterisierung aller erfassten inland valleys erfolgen. Insgesamt wurden 817 inland valleys in dieser Studie untersucht. 67% dieser �euch...

Rice Intensification in a Changing Environment: Impact on Water Availability in Inland Valley Landscapes in Benin

“…Among the adaptive strategies to cope with this matter, an extensive development of inland valleys is being promoted in West Africa for their great potential as rice-based production systems due to the high and secure water availability and soil fertility [6,7]. Often known under the name bas-fonds in Benin, these landscapes usually comprise the valley bottom, hydromorphic fringes and uplands areas [8] and are actively developed to increase the local production [9,10]. Nevertheless, under the ongoing implementation of strategic technologies for rice intensification in inland valleys, no recent studies have investigated future changes on hydrological processes and the long-term impact on water resources through the evaluation of their possible vulnerability to climate change, apart from the ones carried out by Duku et al [11,12].…”

Modelling the forest and woodland-irrigation nexus in tropical Africa: A case study in Benin

“…Another agronomical consideration is that deforestation in the Upper Ouémé watershed is caused to a large extent by shifting cultivation (Giertz et al, 2005), which is a low-input-low-output type of agriculture with very limited returns to land and labour compared to other forms of agriculture. In addition, decreasing fallow periods in the watershed over time have led to concerns about soil degradation (Giertz et al, 2012) which means that future returns on shifting cultivation will be even lower than present day returns.…”

“…Rapid population growth including migrants coming from different parts of the country and other neighbouring countries to farm has caused the expansion of agricultural areas and led to both deforestation and increasing scarcity of agricultural land (Judex and Thamm, 2008). This has led to increasing soil degradation due to shortening of the fallow period (Giertz et al, 2012). Conversion of forest and woodland areas for crop cultivation is mainly through slash and burn techniques (Giertz et al, 2005).…”

“…Finally, cotton, which is the major cash crop in this area, is planted in the period May to July and harvested in the period October to November (Judex and Thamm, 2008). The irrigation sector is poorly developed and the lack of irrigation water during the dry season is a major problem for many farmers (Giertz et al, 2012). Consequently, crop cultivation mainly takes place in the wet season.…”

Hydro-period dynamics of some inland valley agroecosystems in southwest Nigeria

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