Perception and adaptation strategies of dairy farmers towards climate variability and change in West Africa

Marthe Montcho (), Elie Antoine Padonou, Marlise Montcho, Meshack Nzesei Mutua () and Brice Sinsin ()
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Marthe Montcho: University of Abomey-Calavi
Elie Antoine Padonou: University of Abomey-Calavi
Marlise Montcho: Carnegie Mellon University Africa
Meshack Nzesei Mutua: The African Academy of Sciences
Brice Sinsin: University of Abomey-Calavi

Climatic Change, 2022, vol. 170, issue 3, No 20, 21 pages

Abstract: Abstract In West Africa, dairy production plays a vital role in the economy and the wellbeing of the population. Currently, dairy production has become vulnerable due to climate variability. The main objective of this study is to investigate dairy farmers’ perceptions and adaptation strategies towards climate variability and change in West Africa. Individual interviews and focus group discussions were conducted among 900 dairy farmers. Descriptive statistics and chi-square tests were used to assess dairy farmers’ perception of climate change. Multiple correspondence analysis and hierarchical clustering on principal component analysis were used to access the adaptation strategies of dairy farmers. The results revealed that dairy farmers perceived a decrease in the length of the rainy season and the annual rainfall but an increase in the length of the dry season and the annual temperature that affect their activities. Dairy farmers that fed the cattle mainly with natural pastures, crop residues, and agroindustrial by-products in Benin, Burkina Faso, and Niger, used as climate change adaptation strategies, transhumance in the wetland. They also used animal manure to improve fodder quality and plants to improve milk production and milk conservation. They sold milk or produced local cheese with the remaining unsold milk. Dairy farmers that mainly invested in fodder production and conservation in the climate zones of Mali, sold milk produced to dairies and cheese production units; used plants to improve milk production, pasteurization for milk conservation, and veterinary service for animal care. This study provided relevant information for West African policymakers in designing appropriate policies and programs to assist dairy farmers to improve milk production under climate variability and change.

Keywords: Milk; Dairy farmers; Climate change; Adaptation strategies; Typology; West Africa (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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DOI: 10.1007/s10584-022-03311-4

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