Staggered Planting as a Climate Change Adaptation Strategy (ProSOL Bénin)
Staggered planting of both food and cash crops is a climate change adaptation approach implemented in the Banikoara commune. This technology is designed to minimize the risk of crop failure due to irregular rainfall, and to reduce peak periods (of work overload). It is a technology that can be applied in conditions of irregular rainfall cycles, in areas where it is difficult to predict rainfall accurately. The technology applies to all crop types. Applied to cotton, for example, seeding is carried out in two or three stages. If three stages are chosen, the distribution may be ½ of the total area planted initially, then a further ¼, and finally the last ¼. This staggered approach covers a period from two weeks to a month and one to two months after the initial rains. Most producers opt for planting crops between mid-May and the first ten days of August.
To facilitate its implementation, it is necessary to:
(i) accept the risk of losing part of the seed
(ii) be ready to seize any opportunity of adequate rainfall to perform early sowing
(iii) combine this strategy with cover seeding techniques
(iv) make meteorological information accessible to farmers (rural radio and other information and communication technology channels, including community radio BANIGANSÉ FM in Banikoara in this case).
The implementation of staggered sowing effectively addresses the issue of total seed germination losses. If part of the field is lost, the chances are that another is successful. Additionally, this technology streamlines the distribution of work, preventing overlapping field activities. This, in turn, facilitates efficient labour management.
Despite this overall risk-avoidance strategy, this technology presents a number of challenges. These include germination losses in specific sections of their fields, crop losses, and even pest attacks resulting from the selection of an inappropriate seeding period based on soil type and rainfall. Nevertheless, farmers still manage to avoid losses that might have occurred if seeding had been conducted simultaneously across the entire cultivated area.
Location: Banikoara, Alibori, Benin
No. of Technology sites analysed: single site
Spread of the Technology: evenly spread over an area (1.0 km²)
In a permanently protected area?: No
Date of implementation: 2016
Type of introduction
| Specify input | Unit | Quantity | Costs per Unit (CFA F) | Total costs per input (CFA F) | % of costs borne by land users |
| Labour | |||||
| Land preparation / clearing | ha | 1.0 | 17000.0 | 17000.0 | 100.0 |
| Ploughing | ha | 1.0 | 30000.0 | 30000.0 | 100.0 |
| Seeding | ha | 1.0 | 12000.0 | 12000.0 | 100.0 |
| Hoeing and ridging | ha | 1.0 | 20000.0 | 20000.0 | 100.0 |
| Total costs for establishment of the Technology | 79'000.0 | ||||
| Total costs for establishment of the Technology in USD | 128.46 | ||||
| Specify input | Unit | Quantity | Costs per Unit (CFA F) | Total costs per input (CFA F) | % of costs borne by land users |
| Labour | |||||
| Hoeing and ridging | ha | 1.0 | 15000.0 | 15000.0 | 100.0 |
| Total costs for maintenance of the Technology | 15'000.0 | ||||
| Total costs for maintenance of the Technology in USD | 24.39 | ||||
Staggered seeding reduces the risk of crop loss.
