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

eported being a cooperative member. Forty-five percent said they were not members of either type
of organization. GV membership was highest in Borgou (69 percent), Zou (65 percent), and
Atacora (49 percent). Very few farm households in Atlantique are GV members (3 percent). This
geographic pattern reflects the distribution of cotton production in Bénin, since the main function of
GVs is to supply inputs to cotton farmers and market cotton.
Cooperative membership follows a similar pattern. In the south and center of Bénin, 15-20 percent
of farm households are cooperative members, but in Borgou and Atacora, the percentage is close to
35 percent (see Table 4.1.15).
Over half of the farm households in Bénin (57 percent) are members of a credit club (tontine).
Credit clubs are most common in Atlantique, where 92 percent are members, followed by Ouémé,
Zou, and Mono. They are least common in Atacora, where just 21 percent report being a member
(see Table 4.1.16).
When we examine the patterns of membership by household category, several patterns are evident:
Poor households are just as likely to be members of GVs and cooperatives as are richer farm
households.
In contrast, credit clubs are more common among higher-income households than low-income
households.
Male-headed households are more likely to be members of a GV or cooperative compared to
female-headed households (56 compared to 46 percent).
Male- and female-headed households are equally likely to be members of credit clubs.
Economic activities
The respondents were asked about the main activity of each member of the household,
where main activity is defined in terms of allocation of time rather than income generation. In
interpreting these results, it should be kept in mind that most household members have multiple
activities, and there is some subjectivity in deciding which is the main activity. Furthermore, the
responses reflect the perceptions of the head of household rather than the individual in question.
Thus, the results should be interpreted with some caution and should not be taken to imply that
household members have just one (or even a single dominant) activity.
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