Impact of Land Security on Household’s Agricultural Productivity in Benin
Shéïtan Sossou *
Faculté des Sciences Economiques et de Gestion, University of Abomey Calavi, Cotonou, Benin and Faculté des Sciences Economiques et de Gestion, Cheikh Anta Diop University, B.P. 5683 - Dakar-Fann, Senegal.
Ahmadou Aly Mbaye
Faculté des Sciences Economiques et de Gestion, Cheikh Anta Diop University, B.P. 5683 - Dakar-Fann, Senegal.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
This paper aims at studying the impact of land tenure on household’s agricultural productivity in Benin. Data used in this study come from EMICOV (Enquête Modulaire Intégrée sur les Conditions de Vie des Ménages) collected in 2012 and covered 626 Benin’s farming households. The method used is the Conditional Mixed Process (CMP) technic approach. Results show that land certificate ownership increases by 0.238 the likelihood of investing in agricultural equipment whereas the customary law ownership increases this likelihood by 0.374 compared to households without any land ownership (the squatters). Furthermore, the customary law ownership provides farmers with more security than land certificate ownership in “Collines” region. Our results suggest that public authorities recognise customary rights and reinforce legal land institutions. Finally, the best land market structure could reduce challenges related to land access and inequalities related to land resources distribution.
Keywords: Land security, Conditional Mixed Process (CMP), agricultural productivity, Benin