23 January, 2022

Use and economic benefits of indigenous seasonal climate forecasts: evidence from Benin, West Africa

Authors

Cocou Jaurès Amegnaglo, Akwasi Mensah-Bonsu, Kwabena Asomanin Anaman

Despite the prominent role of this traditional knowledge systems in smallholder farming, empirical studies relative to the production process, use and economic valuation of this knowledge to inform decision-making are scanty. Travel cost method, descriptive statistics and a two-step Heckman method are used to analyse the use and economic value of indigenous seasonal climate forecasts (ISCF) in Benin.

ISCF were produced based on the observation of abiotic and biotic indicators in Kandi, Glazoué and Zè with the observations largely undertaken by local elders and professional traditional forecasters. The use of ISCF increased a maize producer’s net income by at least 3%, implying that ISCF are valuables goods.

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