Socio-demographic and economic characteristics, crop-livestock production systems and issues for rearing improvement: A review

Abstract

This paper reviews some characteristics of crop-livestock production systems in Benin with a special focus on the issues for enhance pasture production and nutritive value which in turn will increase animal productivity. Benin is located in the Gulf of Guinea of the Atlantic Ocean in West Africa and covers 114,763 km2. The population estimated in 2017 is 10,900,000 inhabitants with an annual population growth rate of 3.5%. The country is primarily an agro-based economy, characterized by subsistence agricultural production that employs more than 70%. The climate ranges from the bimodal rainfall equatorial type in the south to the tropical unimodal monsoon type in the north. The climatic limiting factor for plant growth is rainfall which is generally tending to diminish with increasing variation between years. There are two main soil types in Benin (ferruginous and ferralitic). Based on a national livestock survey in 2016 the national herd is estimated to be 2 339 000 cattle (Bos taurus or B. indicus), 915 000 sheep (Ovis aries), 1 836 000 goat (Capra hircus), 466 000 swine (Sus scrofa), 2 000 equines (Equus caballus), 800 donkeys (E. asinus), 20 camels (Camelus dromedarius) and 20 000 000 poultry (mainly Numida meleagris). The growth of the ruminant livestock improvement has been impeded by several constraints such as low feed supply in quantity and quality, low crop-livestock integration, low level of management practices, lack of improved breeding stock, disease, inadequate stock water, poor marketing and lack of capital. Zootechnical performances of animals are very low. In this context, the introduction of legume forage would be a sustainable way as it can enhance pasture production and nutritive value which in turn will increase animal productivity.

 Keywords: Benin, agriculture, livestock, feed, grassland.