Assessment of Smallholder Farmers’ Mitigation Strategies to Climatic Hazards in the Inland Valleys of Central Benin: The Case of Drought and Flood

Abstract

Floods and droughts pose significant climatic threats to the stability of Benin’s agro-economic systems, particularly affecting the livelihoods of smallholder farmers in inland valleys. In the Sudano-Guinean zone, where rainfed agriculture predominates, these regions are highly susceptible to climatic hazards such as drought and flooding. However, the dynamics, impacts, and mitigation measures associated with these hazards remain poorly understood. This study investigated the frequency and duration of drought and flood events and the mitigation measures adopted by 208 smallholder farmers across 26 inland valleys in Savalou, a commune with substantial agricultural potential. A mixedmethods approach was used: climatic data (temperature and precipitation) from 1991 to 2021 were analyzed with the Standardized Precipitation-Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI) to assess drought and flood hazards, while socioeconomic data were collected through 52 focus group discussions and structured surveys involving the selected smallholder farmers. Statistical and clustering analyses were employed to identify trends, spatial distributions, and the factors influencing the adoption of mitigation measures. The results revealed that the south-eastern part of Savalou was particularly prone to flooding, with events lasting up to 7 months and a frequency of 37%, while the northern and central parts were more vulnerable to droughts, which could last up to 10 months and had a frequency of 53%. Severe droughts, such as those of 2001, and episodes of extreme humidity in 1991 and 2019 have highlighted significant climatic variability, further exacerbating the vulnerability of local farmers. In response, smallholder farmers have implemented various mitigation strategies, including adaptive agricultural practices, ecological restoration efforts, and technological infrastructure improvements. Socioeconomic factors, such as proximity to markets, membership in agricultural organizations, and support from external institutions, influenced the adoption of these strategies.