Poverty and Agroforestry Adoption: The Cases of Mucuna pruriens and Acacia auriculiformis in Godohou Village (Southern Benin)

Abstract

The decomposition of the environmental degradation cost in Benin Republic revealed that the agricultural activities are responsible of the greatest amount of this cost (76.1%). This situation is strengthened by the fallow periods shortening (and even suppression) in the southern Benin in general, because of demographic pressure. The promotion of some improved fallow technologies (IFT) was then launched some decades ago. This study focused on two IFT of high agro-ecological value, Mucuna pruriens and Acacia auriculiformis, in order to determine the influence of the farmers’ wellbeing state on their farming systems in general, and on the adoption level of these two technologies in Godohou village (southern Benin). The data analysis revealed that: There was no significant difference between the farmers’ amount knowing the agronomic and ecological value of Mucuna pruriens and Acacia auriculiformis from a level of prosperity to another; Three wealth levels were distinguished: The poor class (Ayatonon class), the less poor class (Metchivo-Houedeka class) and the non poor class (Hotonon class) which represented respectively 35.4%, 55.9% and 8.7%;The adoption rate of Mucuna and Acacia fallow was globally low in Godohou village (25.7%), but this adoption rate was lesser in the poorest class than in all other classes. This trend was confirmed if we integrate a global agro-ecological analysis of the farming systems practiced by the farmers.