Rural-Rural Migration: fight or flight way to mitigate Climate Change effect in Northern Benin?

Alice Bonou1*, Janvier Egah2, Anna Veronika Bachan-Juris3, Leonard Wantchekon4,5, Gauthier Biaou1

Abstract

Adaptation to climate change is a challenge for the agricultural sector taking into account its important place in the economy of West African countries. Agricultural sector often struggles to ensure the daily life of farmers, which sometimes forces them to migrate in search of a better economic life. This paper focuses on climate change and how it results in these complex migratory flows. Moreover, the paper offers empirical evidence on migration as a purposeful strategy for running away or fighting/coping with/adapting to evolving conditions. The study was conducted in Northern Benin, where 60 farmers were interviewed. For this purpose, descriptive statistics were used to explain farmers’ perceptions of migration as a technique for income diversification. Moreover, a logistic regression model is used to investigate the factors influencing migration decisions in Northern Benin. The result indicates that Beninese farmers seek work in other farms (outside their village or community) and jobs as miners or in other small-scale trades, primarily for economic reasons. Furthermore, vulnerability to climate change, household and family characteristics are the root of economically driven migration. The recommendations involve a call for the government/NGO to come in and spread awareness that climate change is man-made and thus can be stopped. Moreover, strategies for adaptation that don’t require them to move will be highlighted. Farmers need to join into agricultural cooperative and seek agricultural credit, technical assistance and NGO’s or government programs on climate-smart agriculture.