Les particularités et la composition minéralogique du gisement aurifère de la Perma dans les formations protérozoïques de l'Atacora, nord-ouest de la République du Bénin

(J. de la Recherche Scientifique de l'Université de Lomé, 1999, 3(2): 154-173

Household modelling and trade-off analysis to design resilient crop-livestock farming systems in dry regions of Senegal

This paper analyzes integrated crop-livestock farming systems in dryland regions of Senegal using household survey data and whole farm household modeling. It focuses on the Kaffrine and Thies regions, which exhibit differences in cultivated land area, staple crops grown, and livestock holdings. The analysis identifies region-specific opportunities to sustainably enhance productivity, resilience, and food security. The mechanistic model incorporates factors like crop mixes, livestock herd dynamics, climate impacts, economics, and labor to simulate entire farms. It finds crops generating most of the household income in the more crop-focused Thies region versus only about one-third in livestock-centric Kaffrine, where nearly half of incomes are from small ruminants. Three resilience enhancing interventions were evaluated in the model – i. introducing improved cattle, ii. farmer participation in climate smart agriculture (CSA) and climate information services (CIS) program, and iii. Combining intervention scenario-i and intervention scenario-ii. Introducing improved cattle have over twice the marginal impact on farm cashflows in cattle-dominant Kaffrine compared to crop-focused Thies. Farmers participation in CSA and CIS program raises their incomes in comparable percentages in both regions given the broad importance of crops. Pursuing integrated crop and livestock interventions yields additive income gains in mixed farming Kaffrine versus specialized Thies. The analysis demonstrates greater opportunities for synergies between crops and livestock in Kaffrine’s mixed system context compared to Thies. It provides empirical evidence to inform agricultural policies and investments tailored to regional production patterns. Overall, the paper shows the value of integrated, context-specific approaches to enhancing productivity, resilience, and food security across Senegal's diverse smallholder systems

Gender differentiated adaptation strategies considering climate risk perceptions, impacts and socio-technical conditions in Senegal’s dry regions

This study analyses the gender-differentiated farmers’ perception of climate risk and its impact, access to climate information, and adaptation strategies with the aim to develop gender responsive climate adaptation pathways in Senegal’s dry regions. Study used data collected from 514 farm households through primary survey between May and June 2022 covering Kaffrine, Louga, and Thies sub-regions and multiple communes, including 5% women headed households and 12% women respondents. Through several interactions with key stakeholders, it became evident that while both men and women hold similar perceptions regarding climate risk and its impact on farming systems, women possess significantly less access to Climate Information Services (CIS) and Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) technologies. The women farmers were found to be much more vulnerable to climate risks but often they rely on traditional coping mechanisms such as non-farm income through cottage activities, home gardening etc. rather than modern CSA technologies. Both men and women emphasized the importance of context-specific climate information to be shared with them. Barriers to climate adaptation, such as limited knowledge of CSA, inadequate resources, and dearth of timely climate information, were identified, underscoring the importance for community resilience. The Tobit regression analysis highlighted multifaceted determinants of households’ ability to adapt to climate change, emphasizing the roles of gender empowerment, education, access to CSA and CIS, and regional disparities. The study underscores the importance of understanding community perceptions and drivers of adaptive capacity, addressing barriers, and based on empirical evidence we propose a gender-responsive pathway to climate-resilient agriculture. These insights and proposed pathways can help policymakers and practitioners to navigate the complex terrain of climate change effectively. Finally, these findings underscore the need for informed policy interventions, tailored strategies and appropriate institutional interventions to address cultural barriers and enhance women’s role in farming decision making and access to CIS and CSA

Understanding the dynamics and identify entry points to build resilience in groundnut value chain in Senegal: A group model building approach

This working paper focuses on analyzing the dynamics of the peanut value chain in Senegal and identifying entry points to enhance its resilience. Using an innovative Group Model Building approach, the study explores the complexities of the chain, which is central to Senegalese agriculture, covering 40% of the total cultivated area. The groundnut value chain, largely in the hands of smallholders, is a crucial income source for the rural population. However, it faces challenges such as climate pressures, aging infrastructure, and unregulated trader entry, exacerbating vulnerability despite stakeholder efforts. Supply complexities include factors like production systems, climatic conditions, and access to essential inputs. Seeds and fertilizers are critical, but farmers struggle with insufficient quantities, ineffective governance, and limited access to mechanization. This results in low productivity, unstable yields, and high production costs. Climate risks, compounded by low access to climate information services (CIS) and climate- smart agricultural practices (CSAP) training, further impact yields and increase vulnerability. Land degradation adds another dimension to climate risk, affecting both yield and land use for peanut production. The study recommends an innovative Group Model Building approach to gain insights into the groundnut value chain dynamics through causal loop diagrams. The objective is to formulate policy recommendations to strengthen the sustainability and resilience of the peanut value chain, addressing challenges related to inputs, climate risks, and training