Economic efficiency of maize and soybean farmers adopting integrated soil fertility management strategies as climate change adaptation techniques in Northern Benin

Abstract

Popularized or endogenous Integrated Soil Fertility Management (ISFM) strategies adopted in western Atacora region of northern Benin could help improve farmers' agricultural yields. The aim of this study is to analyze the effect of these strategies on the economic efficiency of maize and soybean farmers. Stochastic production and cost frontier functions of the Cobb-Douglass type were estimated to analyze levels of economic efficiency. Analysis of the results by type of strategy reveals that farmers of Group 2, who adopted the strategies of legume-based soil regeneration and use of organic matter saw their level of economic efficiency improved by 45.9% for maize and 71.1% for soybeans, compared with farmers of Group 1 who adopted the other strategies and obtained gains of 35.4% for maize and 52.8% for soybeans. Econometric estimation showed that gender, extension, experience, available resources (labor), household size, training, area sown, access to credit and ISFM strategy adoption significantly influenced the level of economic efficiency of both maize and soybean growers.

Keywords: Adaptation, integrated management, soil fertility, economic efficiency