Access to Land for Agricultural Entrepreneurial Activities in the Context of Sustainable Food Production in Borgou, according to Land Law in Benin

Abstract

Access to land is crucial for food systems to address the challenges caused by habitat and biodiversity loss, land and water degradation, and greenhouse gas emissions. Sustainable food production requires land security upstream for agricultural production. Land security emanates from the land law implemented in-country by government policy. In the span of a decade (2007–2017), three different land reforms have been adopted in Benin. This paper aims to investigate the land rights and land tenure security for sustainable food production according to land law and the factors that influence agricultural entrepreneurial activities in North Benin. The study was carried out in the Borgou department, mainly in five communes that are beneficiaries of the Responsible Land Policy Project of GIZ (Promotion d’une Politique Foncière Responsible: ProPFR/GIZ). A multistage sampling procedure was used to select the agricultural entrepreneur respondents. A total of 102 agriculture entrepreneurs were interviewed in 25 villages. According to land law in Benin, the results highlight the different levels of land tenure security and land rights represented by types of land documents: type contract (use right), certificates of customary ownership (ADC), and land title. The research reveals that 44.3% of the land of agriculture entrepreneurs’ respondents possessed the certificates of customary ownership and 18% possessed the land title. The facilitation of access to legal land documents such as certificates of customary ownership and land titles can protect agricultural entrepreneurship for sustainable food production.

Adoption of Environmentally sustainable practices in rural Atacora, Benin

“…The result indicates that being experienced in farming activities increase the likelihood that a rural farmer adopts the ESP practices. This is in line withAkowedaho et al (2022);…”

“…No doubt, increasing subsistence demands in the country is due to demographic growth and access to land for the amelioration of agricultural performance and food security. The historical background and land policy reforms related issues such as the modi cation of the property right since the independence in 1960, 1991, 2013 and 2017 as noted by Akowedaho et al (2022), have led to complex situations negatively impacted by land accessibility in the country. In addition, smallholder farmers are facing agricultural product shocks due to climate change issues resulting in uncertainties in production with other related issues affecting their welfare.…”

“…In addition, smallholder farmers are facing agricultural product shocks due to climate change issues resulting in uncertainties in production with other related issues affecting their welfare. This situation therefore fragilizes sustainable food production while making rural households vulnerable to food in security in the country speci cally in the northern parts of the country leading to soil degradation (Akowedaho et al, 2022).…”

Differentiated Analysis of the Occupational Integration of Young Agricultural Bachelor Degree Holders in Agricultural Entrepreneurship: Case Study from the University of Abomey-Calavi in the Republic of Benin

“…to these results. Previous studies highlight access to finance, land availability, and government regulations as significant barriers to agricultural entrepreneurship[10];Akowedaho et al, 2022; [11];…”