Impact Of Agricultural Market Reforms On Smallholder Farmers In ...

Crop production and storage
Maize is the most important crop in terms of the share of farms growing it (89 percent), the
share of farmland allocated to it (37 percent), and the value of production (27 percent).
Cotton is grown by 35 percent of the farmers and accounts for 18 percent of the area and 22
percent of the value of output.
Production is more diversified in the North, with farms growing an average of 6-7 crops,
compared to less than 4 in the South and 2.6 in Atlantique.
Cropping patterns do not differ much between male- and female-headed households.
Sorghum/millet and yams are more important in the crop mix of poor households.
Larger farms allocate a smaller share of the area to staple foods and vegetables compared to
small farms.
Almost two-thirds of the farms own graineries (more in the North) and half use their houses
(less in the North).
Grains are generally stored for 6-9 months for consumption or (less often) for sale.
Agricultural marketing
Marketed surplus
In spite of the small size and limited technology of farms in Benin, a large share (almost two
thirds) of the output is sold on the market. About half the households sell more than 50
percent of their crop production.
The marketed surplus is 100 percent for cotton, 84 percent for manioc, and 40-50 percent of
the maize, cowpeas, and rice.
The marketed share is highest in Atlantique (82 percent) and lowest in Atacora and Borgou
(43 and 50 percent). Although Northern farmers often grow cotton, they also grow yams and
sorghum/millet, little of which is marketed.
Female-headed households appear to be more market oriented than male-headed households.
The relationship between marketed surplus and farms size is positive but weak, because small
farms often grow vegetables for sale.
Private traders handle 85-95 percent of all foodcrop marketing.
Only 1 percent of the cotton is sold outside the SONAPRA/GV system.
326