CORRESPONDANCES ENTRE SAVOIRS LOCAUX ET SCIENTIFIQUES : PERCEPTIONS DES CHANGEMENTS CLIMATIQUES ET ADAPTATIONS ETUDE EN REGION COTONNIERE DU NORD DU BENIN

N° ISBN - 978-2-7380-1284-5International audienceA survey carried out in four regions of Benin with different climatic profiles have shown producers' perceptions on climatic changes, their consequences and the different adapted measures taken by producers in order to deal with such consequences. Methodologies used comprise group discussions as well as individual interviews with open-ended, semi open and open questionnaires. The present paper is based on research results from 110 family farms of two villages in the northern region. Climate is Sudanese and the production system is cotton based. Recent climate trends perceived by producers are: irregular rainfalls, shortening of cultivation season, occurrence of violent winds and a increase of temperatures. Conventional analyses of climate series highlight significant increases of maxima and minima temperatures, although fail to show significant increases in violent winds as well as significant differences in rainfall distributions. Adaptive measures put to use by producers are many, but scarcely compensate negative effects of climate changes. Farms with little production means remain vulnerable. The study of producers' perceptions of climate changes traduces the need for a new approach in the analysis of climatic variables based on micro spatial and temporal scales

Perceptions et stratégies d’adaptation aux changements climatiques : le cas des communes d’Adjohoun et de Dangbo au Sud-Est Bénin

La présente étude met en exergue la variable humaine, responsable des perturbations climatiques suite aux actions anthropiques. Elle a été conduite dans deux communes de la vallée de l’Ouémé, compte tenu de leurs nombreuses potentialités hydro‑agricoles et de leur vulnérabilité aux intenses activités agricoles. La méthodologie de recherche comprend : une étude exploratoire permettant de choisir les villages sur la base de critères tels que la toposéquence et l’importance des activités agricoles, une phase d’enquêtes approfondies avec l’administration de questionnaires structurés auprès de 70 producteurs, des entretiens semi-structurés, informels individuels et de groupes, des transects participatifs et une triangulation de sources d’informations complémentaires. Les analyses de perceptions et stratégies d’adaptation ont été faites avec les populations et SAS a été utilisé pour l’analyse en composantes principales. Les résultats révèlent que les producteurs perçoivent et vivent les effets des changements climatiques avec pour conséquences de profonds bouleversements socio-économiques ces quinze dernières années. Ces bouleversements concernent les précipitations caractérisées par des séquences d’inondation, de sècheresse prolongée, de fortes températures et une fréquence élevée des vents violents. Les causes de ces changements sont attribuées aux bouleversements des normes sociales et les petits producteurs sont les plus vulnérables. Diverses stratégies développées comprennent l’adoption de variétés à cycles plus courts, la mise en valeur de différentes unités de paysage, l’intensification de l’utilisation des engrais chimiques, la diversification des sources de revenus.Perceptions and strategies of adaptation to climate changes : the cases of Adjohoun and Dangbo districts in South-East BeninThis study focuses on human variable as responsible for climate change. It was carried out in two districts of Ouémé Valley based on its numerous hydro-agricultural potentialities and their vulnerability to intensified agricultural activities. The research methodology includes an exploratory study which enabled to choose villages based on criteria such as toposequence, and the importance of agricultural activities ; in-depth survey with the administration of a structured questionnaire to 70 small-scale individual farmers ; semi structured, informal individual and focus group interviews, participatory transect walks and triangulation of complementary information sources. The analysis of perceptions and adaptation strategies were jointly made with interviewed farmers and SAS was used to analyse main components. The results revealed that farmers perceived and acknowledged climate change effects, which brought about serious socio-economic upheavals the last fifteen years. These upheavals relate to erratic precipitations characterized with sequences of flooding, lengthened drought, higher temperature and increased frequency of violent wind. The causes of this climate change were attributed to the disruption of social norms and values and small-scale farmers are the most vulnerable. Various developed strategies include : use of extra early maturing varieties, cultivation of different toposequences, application of additional chemical fertilisers, diversification sources of income

Innovating a system for producing and distributing hybrid oil palm seedlings to smallholder farmers in Benin

This article analyses the development of a system for producing and distributing hybrid oil palm seedlings to small-scale famers. The existing seed system had become so corrupted that the seedlings actually planted were largely of unimproved kinds. The article describes institutional experiments carried out by two Innovation Platforms (IPs) in order to improve the oil palm seed system. Theory Guided Process Inquiry was used to document, evaluate and analyse these interventions. The experiments catalysed changes in inter-personal and inter-organisational power relationships that enabled further co-learning and co-construction of understanding and action among key stakeholders in the oil palm domain. The IPs and those who became local champions of seed system innovation, also triggered change in institutional behaviours, technologies, and practices that further improved the integrity of the seed system. Official nursery holders must now be trained, registered and licensed by local government. Farmers are encouraged to source hybrid seedlings only from licensed nurseries. These achievements were then shared and discussed with officials and higher level government leaders, drawing on IP members’ pre-existing professional and personal networks. Improvement of the oil palm seed system was included in the government's latest 5-year development plan

Relation entre perceptions paysannes de la variabilité climatique et observations climatiques au Sud-Bénin

L’étude a pour objectif d’analyser les perceptions paysannes de la variabilité climatique et leur pertinence par rapport aux observations climatiques. À cet effet, elle a comparé des données climatiques de 14 stations et des perceptions paysannes de la variabilité climatique recueillies à partir d’une enquête auprès de 201 chefs d’exploitation (CE) agricole répartis sur 67 villages au sud-Bénin. L’enquête était constituée d’entretiens collectifs et individuels, à questionnaires ouverts, semi-ouverts et fermés. Les CE sont davantage marqués par la dégradation de la qualité des saisons des pluies observée entre 1951-1970 et 1971-1990, en l’occurrence la modification des dates de début et de fin des saisons des pluies, la recrudescence des séquences sèches, la diminution du nombre de jours pluvieux et le déficit pluviométrique, que par la relative récente reprise des précipitations au cours des années 1990 et 2000 sur la région d’étude. Toutefois, le changement d’échelle, de régionale à locale, réduit sensiblement l’écart entre les perceptions paysannes et les observations climatiques. Les CE citent également la baisse des températures et l’augmentation de la fréquence des vents violents pendant les saisons pluvieuses. Ces perceptions sont contraires aux observations climatiques et suggèrent des investigations plus approfondies pour mieux comprendre ces divergences. Face à la variabilité climatique, les CE ont développé des mesures d’adaptation qui globalement traduisent leur perception. Ceci ouvre des perspectives pour l’élaboration de stratégies d’adaptation avec une forte chance d’attirer l’intérêt des producteurs.The study aims at analyzing farmers’ perceptions of climate variability and their relevance to climate observations. Climatic data from 14 stations and farmers’ perceptions of climatic variability were collected from 201 farm managers in 67 villages in southern Benin. A combination of qualitative (informal and semi structured interviews of socio-professional groups, participant observation and triangulation) and quantitative (Structured questionnaire) approaches were used. Farmers are more sensitive to changes in rainfall patterns from 1951 to 1970 and from 1971 to 1990, particularly the shift in the onset and the end of rainy seasons, increase in the frequency of drought sequences, decrease in the number of rainfall days and rainfall deficit than the relative recent increase in precipitations that occurred in 1990 and 2000 in the study area. However, shift in scale regional or local reduce significantly the gap between farmers’ perception and climatic data. Farmers also acknowledge the decrease in temperature and the raise in the frequency of violent winds during rainy seasons. These perceptions are in contradiction with climatic data collected and suggest in depth investigations to better understand these divergences. In order to mitigate climatic variability, farmers have developed adaption strategies mostly based on their perception. This offers window of perspectives to develop adaptation strategies based on farmers’ perception and interests

Relation entre perceptions paysannes de la variabilité climatique et observations climatiques au Sud-Bénin

The study aims at analyzing farmers’ perceptions of climate variability and their relevance to climate observations. Climatic data from 14 stations and farmers’ perceptions of climatic variability were collected from 201 farm managers in 67 villages in southern Benin. A combination of qualitative (informal and semi structured interviews of socio-professional groups, participant observation and triangulation) and quantitative (Structured questionnaire) approaches were used. Farmers are more sensitive to changes in rainfall patterns from 1951 to 1970 and from 1971 to 1990, particularly the shift in the onset and the end of rainy seasons, increase in the frequency of drought sequences, decrease in the number of rainfall days and rainfall deficit than the relative recent increase in precipitations that occurred in 1990 and 2000 in the study area. However, shift in scale regional or local reduce significantly the gap between farmers’ perception and climatic data. Farmers also acknowledge the decrease in temperature and the raise in the frequency of violent winds during rainy seasons. These perceptions are in contradiction with climatic data collected and suggest in depth investigations to better understand these divergences. In order to mitigate climatic variability, farmers have developed adaption strategies mostly based on their perception. This offers window of perspectives to develop adaptation strategies based on farmers’ perception and interests

Social institutional dynamics of seed system reliability: the case of oil palm in Benin

<div><p>Seed system reliability is of major importance in farming. Whereas earlier studies analysed mainly annuals, this study focuses on a perennial. Oil palm in Benin was chosen as a case study because farmers complained about non-hybrids (<i>dura</i> and <i>pisifera</i>) in plots allegedly planted with 100% hybrid (<i>tenera</i>). This study assessed the reliability of the oil palm seedling supply system over past decades and its main drivers. An event ecology approach was used to identify causal mechanisms accounting for the observed variation in oil palm types on smallholder plots. A total of 378 plots belonging to 248 farmers that were allegedly planted with <i>tenera</i> between 1969 and 2009 were sampled, and shell thickness of fruits was assessed to determine whether palms were <i>tenera</i>, <i>pisifera,</i> or <i>dura</i>. The proportion of <i>tenera</i> varied with seedling supply source, farmers' geographic position, seedling purchase price, and year of planting. The proportion of <i>tenera</i> decreased with year of planting. Socio-institutional mechanisms associated with the observed variation in smallholder plots were national policy change, local arrangements for seedling supply to smallholder farmers, and farmers' personal characteristics. The implications of the observed decrease in the reliability of the seedling supply system are discussed.</p></div

L’Afrique face aux changements climatiques

Les cinq études sont extraites du séminaire organisé à Poitiers par le laboratoire RURALITES (EA 2252, Université de Poitiers) les 19 et 20 mai 2011 sur le thème « Les effets du changement climatique en Afrique » qui avait pour but d’interroger « la réalité » du phénomène en changeant d’échelle d’observation et en partant de ses effets avérés, probables ou ressentis aux niveaux local et régional, en essayant de répondre aux questions soulevées par les phénomènes climatiques et leur interprétation. Si l’incertitude prévaut aujourd’hui, elle tient en partie à la complexité des phénomènes climatiques observés et à leur interprétation; il semblerait également qu’on n’ait pas suffisamment souligné l’importance des jeux d’échelles et la nécessité de toujours replacer les questions liées au climat dans le temps, l’espace et les contextes locaux. L’Afrique apparaît bien comme l’une des régions les plus exposées au changement climatique et vulnérables