ABSTRACT
Ecological deterioration and soil degradation are consequences of climate change. The paper evaluates climatic impacts on soil degradation and peasants’ adaptation strategies for sustainable development of agriculture in the Oti plain in Benin. Climatological and pedological data associated with the agricultural statistics of selected crops (maize) have been studied according to current farming practices. Soil samples and their physico-chemical evaluation made it possible to evaluate the state of soil fertility. The soil analyses evidenced that 15% of the studied soils are suitable for certain farming crops. 65% fit moderately and 20% marginally or even unfit to the environmental properties. Most of these soils are shallow and become increasingly uncultivated because of the advanced effect of soil degradation and deterioration of the climate. In response, farmers implement adaptation measures such as soil biological remediation, use of chemical fertilisers, and crop rotation. In the context of the promotion of climate-smart agriculture, accompanying measures deserve to be initiated to support farmers.
