EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON FOOD CROP PRODUCTION IN BENIN

Abstract

Climate change becomes a serious threat to all humanity and in particular developing countries where people are more vulnerable because they depend on agriculture for their livelihood. In this study, we analyzed the effects of climatic variables on maize, rice and sorghum yields for 76 of the 77 municipalities in Benin over the period from 1995 to 2019. Using a production function, we specified a panel data model. Estimation of the pooled model and the fixed effect model showed that both precipitation and temperature variation were negatively correlated with production for the full sample and in northern and southern Benin, indicating the robustness of the results. Policies to promote adaptation strategies by facilitating farmers’ access to adaptation strategies need to be strengthened.