Impact Of Agricultural Market Reforms On Smallholder Farmers In ...
Impact Of Agricultural Market Reforms On Smallholder Farmers In ... Impact Of Agricultural Market Reforms On Smallholder Farmers In ...
This discussion implies that farms in the north are more diversified than those in the south, in that each farm produces a wider range of crops. According to the IFPRI-LARES Small Farmer Survey, the average number of crops grown (among the 14 main crops) is 6-7 in Atacora and Borgou, 4.8 in Zou, and less than 4 in the three southern departments. In fact, farmers in Atlantique are the most specialized, growing an average of just 2.6 of the 14 crops. The allocation of land among crops for each department confirms some of the patterns already mentioned. In Atacora and Borgou, the dominant crops in terms of area are cotton, sorghum/millet, yams, and maize. In Zou, they are maize and cotton, followed by cowpeas, groundnuts, and manioc. Even though maize is grown by the large majority of farmers in every department, it occupies a much larger share of cultivated land in the south. In the three southern departments, maize occupies over half the planted area, compared to less than one third in the center and north. Similarly, manioc occupies 10-19 percent of the area in the south, compared to just 4 percent in the north (see Table 4.1.102). Gender differences in production The cropping patterns of female-headed households do not differ markedly from those of male-headed households. Female-headed households are somewhat less likely to grow sorghum/millet, rice, and yams and more likely to grow cowpeas, cotton, and some types of vegetables. This is largely because female-headed households are less common in the north than in the center and south. The average number of crops grown is approximately equal, suggesting that female-headed households are neither more specialized nor more diversified than male-headed households (see Table 4.1.103). The allocation of land among crops is also similar. In both types of household, maize accounts for 37 percent of the area and cotton around 20 percent. Manioc and some types of vegetables are more important on the farms of female-headed households, while sorghum/millet, yams, and “other crops” play a larger role in male-headed households. These differences largely reflect the greater concentration of female-headed households in the south (see Table 4.1.104). Differences in production across expenditure groups Cropping patterns are surprisingly stable across expenditure categories. Most of the crops, including maize, manioc, and cotton, are grown by similar percentage of rich and poor farm 71
households. The only clear patterns are found in sorghum/millet and yams, which are grown by a larger percentage of poor farms than richer farms (see Table 4.1.105). The percentage allocation of land is also fairly similar across expenditure categories. Once again, the only crops showing a consistent pattern are sorghum/millet and yams, which account for a larger portion of the cultivated area of poor households. The share of land planted to these two crops falls from 15 percent in the poorest expenditure category to just 5 percent in the richest. One implication of this result is that agricultural research to improve yields and disease resistance in these two crops would have a greater impact on the poorest rural households than on relatively better-off ones. The percentage of land allocated to cotton is roughly constant across categories. This implies that the benefits of the cotton boom have been relatively well-distributed among income groups (see Table 4.1.106). Differences in production across farm size groups Although cropping patterns are similar across expenditure categories, they vary substantially across farm-size categories. The percentage of farms growing each crop rises with farm size. For example, only 7 percent of the smallest farms grow cotton compared to 70 percent of the largest. Similar trends are found for most of the major crops, the main exception being manioc. The average number of crops grown on a farm rises from less than 3 on the smallest farms to 6.5 on the largest (see Table 4.1.107). The allocation of farm land among crops also changes as farm size increases. Three patterns can be identified. First, the proportion of land allocated to staple food crops such as maize, manioc, and yams declines. These three crops account for 59 percent of the area planted on the smallest 20 percent of farms, but this proportion falls to 41 percent on the largest 20 percent of farms. This is due to the fact that the consumption needs of the family are met on a smaller proportion of the total area of large farms. Second, although the trend is somewhat erratic, it appears that the share of land allocated to vegetables also declines with farm size. This is explained by the fact that vegetables are costly and labor-intensive to grow. On a large farm, these costs make it difficult to allocate more than a small portion of the total area to vegetables. In contrast, the high economic 72
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This discussion implies that farms in the north are more diversified than those in the south, in that<br />
each farm produces a wider range of crops. According to the IFPRI-LARES Small Farmer Survey,<br />
the average number of crops grown (among the 14 main crops) is 6-7 in Atacora and Borgou, 4.8 in<br />
Zou, and less than 4 in the three southern departments. <strong>In</strong> fact, farmers in Atlantique are the most<br />
specialized, growing an average of just 2.6 of the 14 crops.<br />
The allocation of land among crops for each department confirms some of the patterns already<br />
mentioned. <strong>In</strong> Atacora and Borgou, the dominant crops in terms of area are cotton, sorghum/millet,<br />
yams, and maize. <strong>In</strong> Zou, they are maize and cotton, followed by cowpeas, groundnuts, and<br />
manioc. Even though maize is grown by the large majority of farmers in every department, it<br />
occupies a much larger share of cultivated land in the south. <strong>In</strong> the three southern departments,<br />
maize occupies over half the planted area, compared to less than one third in the center and north.<br />
Similarly, manioc occupies 10-19 percent of the area in the south, compared to just 4 percent in the<br />
north (see Table 4.1.102).<br />
Gender differences in production<br />
The cropping patterns of female-headed households do not differ markedly from those of<br />
male-headed households. Female-headed households are somewhat less likely to grow<br />
sorghum/millet, rice, and yams and more likely to grow cowpeas, cotton, and some types of<br />
vegetables. This is largely because female-headed households are less common in the north than in<br />
the center and south. The average number of crops grown is approximately equal, suggesting that<br />
female-headed households are neither more specialized nor more diversified than male-headed<br />
households (see Table 4.1.103).<br />
The allocation of land among crops is also similar. <strong>In</strong> both types of household, maize accounts for<br />
37 percent of the area and cotton around 20 percent. Manioc and some types of vegetables are<br />
more important on the farms of female-headed households, while sorghum/millet, yams, and “other<br />
crops” play a larger role in male-headed households. These differences largely reflect the greater<br />
concentration of female-headed households in the south (see Table 4.1.104).<br />
Differences in production across expenditure groups<br />
Cropping patterns are surprisingly stable across expenditure categories. Most of the crops,<br />
including maize, manioc, and cotton, are grown by similar percentage of rich and poor farm<br />
71
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