Université d'Abomey-Calavi

ABSTRACT This paper investigates the effect of financial information sharing on agricultural credit across 60 developing countries. We first develop a simple theoretical model that elucidates how enhanced information flow, via private credit bureaus and public credit registries, can mitigate information asymmetries and improve lending decisions in the farm credit market. The model predicts that when financial institutions have access to shared borrower information, they are more likely to increase credit provision to agricultural enterprises. To empirically validate these predictions, we employ panel data covering the period 2013–2020, sourced from the FAO, World Development Indicators, Worldwide Governance Indicators, and the World Bank's Doing Business database. Using the System Generalised Method of Moments (GMM) estimator to address potential endogeneity and dynamic effects, we find robust evidence that information sharing significantly enhances agricultural credit availability. This effect is particularly pronounced in the long term, suggesting that sustained improvements in information infrastructure yield cumulative benefits for agricultural finance. Our findings underscore the importance of policy frameworks that promote the development and integration of credit information systems. By facilitating transparency and reducing credit risk, such systems can strengthen the relationship between financial institutions and agricultural enterprises, ultimately supporting broader agricultural development goals.

Abstract Background Agbelima is a fermented cassava mash, which is then cooked into dough. The key quality attributes are color, odor, stretchability, and sour taste. To succeed in upgrading agbelima value chain, there is a need to determine the instrumental parameters that predict the quality of consumer‐preferred attributes of the final product. This study assessed the indicative trends of key quality attributes of agbelima in order to integrate them in the product profile and used as selection criteria for screening candidate agbelima for high consumer acceptance. Results Agbelima was studied through consumers' perception and biophysical parameters including uniaxial texture and pasting properties. Overall liking was associated with sour taste and stretchability ( R 2 = 0.97, lack‐of‐fit = 13.8, p < 0.05). A high sour taste and stretchability are preferred (liking score above 4.62 and 5, respectively, on a 1–7 scale). Stretchability was well explained by setback viscosity while sour taste was characterized by peak viscosity and hardness. Desirable biophysical targets were between 6.6 and 8.1 P for setback viscosity, peak viscosity ranged from 40.4 to 44.5 P, and hardness from 29.1 to 33.6 N. Conclusion Agbelima indicative trends assessed through instrumental measurements are promising tools paving the way for upgrading its value chain.

Contexte : Au Tchad, les parcours naturels constituent la base de l’alimentation des ruminants. Leur productivité est tributaire des conditions édaphiques et climatiques. Dans le département de Barh Kôh, dans la zone soudanienne, la productivité des parcours naturels, l’ingestion au pâturage et la contribution des différentes catégories d’herbacées au régime alimentaire des bovins sont mal connues, ce qui rend difficile la formulation de rations complémentaires. Objectif : Cette investigation se propose de quantifier l’ingestion au pâturage et de caractériser la qualité des fourrages consommés en fonction de la localité (sous-préfecture), de l’année et de la saison. Méthodes : Les travaux ont été conduits sur quatre parcours naturels distincts. La productivité de ces parcours a fait l’objet d’une première évaluation en 2019, suivie d’une réévaluation en 2021. Une étude du comportement alimentaire des bovins zébu Goudali (Bos taurus indicus) localement appeler (Bogolodji ou Bokolodji) a été réalisée durant la saison pluvieuse, sur une période de 10 jours pour chaque parcours. Résultats : La productivité et la capacité de charge des parcours naturels étaient de 3,4 ± 0,4 t MS/ha et 1,2 ± 0,3 UBT/ha/an respectivement. La productivité a varié significativement entre les localités (p < 0,05) et a été influencée par l’année (p < 0,001). Suite aux importantes précipitations enregistrées en 2019 (1 237 mm d’eau), la productivité a été plus élevée (4,7 t MS/ha), mais elle a diminué de 50 % en 2021 par rapport à la moyenne des années précédentes. La saison n’a pas eu d’effet significatif sur la productivité des parcours (p > 0,05) (3,3 ± 0,5 et 3,0 ± 0,4 t MS/ha, en pleine saison pluvieuse et au début de la saison sèche respectivement). Les bovins Goudali ont ingéré 7,9 kg de MS par jour d’herbes de parcours naturels constituées pour moitié de graminées, pour un quart de légumineuses herbacées et pour un quart de ligneux ayant pour valeurs 0,55 UFL et 0,47 UFV par kg de MS. Les valeurs de PDIN (92 g/kg MS) sont en moyenne de 10 % supérieures à celles des PDIE (82 g/kg MS). Conclusions : Ces résultats permettent une gestion efficace des parcours naturels de type Soudanien et d’orienter les stratégies de supplémentation des bovins au Tchad.

Land use and land cover change (LULCC) constitutes a major challenge to sustainability worldwide. This also applies to Japan, where urbanization in coastal lowlands is contrasted with widespread agricultural abandonment in rural landscapes. In this systematic review we synthesized the main LULCC trajectories, their driving forces, and specific effects in Japan from 1994 to 2024. Following PRISMA guidelines, 158 peer-reviewed articles were analyzed using quantitative co-occurrence analyses, Chi-squared tests, and Sankey diagrams to map land-use flows. Two dominant and opposing trajectories were confirmed: urban expansion and agricultural abandonment. The most significant land transition flow involved the conversion of agricultural land to forests/natural vegetation, while the conversion of agricultural land to built-up areas came in second place. These transitions were primarily driven by economic and demographic factors, but reforestation trends were strongly influenced by policy and institutional factors (35.70%), reflecting national regreening initiatives. Ecological and biodiversity impacts of LULCC were the most often documented effects (>40% of records). While the published literature describes trends in land-use transformations, the mechanistic understanding of LULCC remains limited. There is an urgent need to move toward process-based predictive modeling that integrates socio-economic variables. Future policies should balance urban density management with the strategic use of rural abandonment for ecosystem services provision and climate mitigation.

This article presents the results of various 1D simulations performed on the existing breakwater in Avlékéte, a critical erosion site for economic stability, environmental preservation, community resilience, and sustainable development, with a view to implementing innovative coastal protection measures to safeguard the coast for future generations in the Republic of Benin. To define the morphology along the coastline, different design simulations are carried out. A first design simulation was carried out, including a breakwater but without a lagoon, then a second without a breakwater as a hard element but with a lagoon, then a third smooth including a breakwater but without a lagoon and finally a fourth smooth including a breakwater and with a reduced wave height at the breakwater but without a lagoon which is the most appropriate approach. In order to study the morphological stability of the transverse profile of the breakwater, a one-dimensional XBeach simulation, Surfbeat mode, was carried out with the most difficult wave conditions while considering a breakwater as a non-erodible layer. The results from these simulations confirm those of the studies commissioned by the Ministry of Living Environment and Transport in charge of Sustainable Development (MCVT) in February 2023. The study of the morphological stability of the transverse profile of the breakwater led to a revised model, which shows a limited restructuring of the beach, a propagation towards the shore, and therefore an erosion of the breakwater. The profile retained at the end of the study is an equilibrium profile.

A study was conducted across the Benin territory to assess the knowledge of small ruminant farmers about the Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) disease. The study involved 1381 farmers from 45 communes across all departments using a structured questionnaire to understand socio-economic characteristics, the genotype of farmers, and knowledge and practices in case of suspicion of PPR. Three distinct and homogeneous groups (G1, G2 and G3) were formed, with a chi-square test to compare the calculated frequencies. The majority of the farmers were young men (93.8%) and small animal handlers (<20 ovins and caprins). The Djallonké ovines and caprins were the most used by the G1 and G2 farmers due to their availability and affordable price. In the G3 group, animals were mainly confined to wood-based habitats (32.84%), and zootechnic performance was the main criteria for their choice. Local and occasional food availability was the main source of food for the three groups, resulting in a low to average knowledge of the disease signs and practices. The G3 farmers had a very good knowledge of the disease, practising the recommended measures (vaccination: 56.37%) and quarantine.