Analysis of the interrelationships of stakeholders involved in the management of transhumance in southern Benin

Abstract

The management of pastoral mobility is a stakeholder-centered approach for the integration of resource conservation and agricultural development. This management of space and its resources is the responsibility of a group of actors who are responsible for resolving con icts of interest. This study aimed at analyzing the in uence of transhumance stakeholders in the municipality of Djidja in southern Benin thanks to semi-structured interviews, which were conducted with 300 transhumance actors. The Likert scale (1 to 5) was used to assess the levels of in uence and focus groups were conducted. The results obtained showed that several stakeholders were involved in transhumance with diverse interests, backgrounds, knowledge and power (p < 0.05). The majority of farmers (72%) blame transhumant herders whose practices are source of multiple con icts. The analysis indicated a strong in uence with highly signi cant differences (p < 0.001) in the management of transhumance by four stakeholders including the communal transhumance committee, the association of herders, the Garso (Scout and intermediary for transhumant herders) and the transhumant herder. This research demonstrates how the systematic analysis of the activities carried out by the actors, the interconnected activities between them and their relationships can offer insights for a better coordination of transhumance. For management to become reality, it is important building partnership between the various stakeholders linked by transhumance in southern Benin.

Phenotypic and morphometric characterization of domestic geese raised in northern Benin

“…Buckland and Guy (2002) , found that the Chinese goose was relatively small, with mature males weighing on average 4.5 kg and females 4.0 kg. Therefore, the relatively poor diets provided to birds in the different agro-ecological zones are most likely the cause of their body weight which remains lower ( Azalou et al, 2023 ). These results could also be explained by the breeding systems in which these animals evolve.…”

“…Poultry production progresses each year with improvements due to the development of chicken farming and secondarily to the breeding of turkeys, ducks and guinea fowl. To these different breeding systems, is added that of the domestic goose although that it is still in its beginnings ( Hugo, 1997 ; Hamadani et al, 2017 ) in certain countries around the world such as India and even at Benin ( Azalou et al, 2023 ). Thus, on a global scale, domesticated geese came from2 wild species: 1) the greylag goose ( Anser anser ), an ancestor of many domestic breeds, including today's indigenous geese in Egypt and Europe; and 2) the swan goose ( Anser cygnoides ), an ancestor of the Chinese and some African goose breeds ( Silversides et al, 1988 ; Scherf, 2000 ; Abdel-Kafy et al, 2021 ).…”