An assessment of agricultural productivity and major driving factors in the republic of Benin

Abstract

Under different reforms that occurred since 1961, Benin agricultural productivity has changed and decreased significantly after the country’s agricultural liberalization in 1990. This paper used simple linear regression to explore major driving factors that change and propose policies which will contribute to improve the country’s agricultural productivity in the long term. Results reveal that Agricultural land and rainfall had a positive effect on productivity while labor and government effectiveness had a negative effect. Moreover, agricultural research, extension and country openness doesn’t any significant effect. Therefore, government should manage effort to improve agricultural labor management and develop effective actions to addressed agricultural productivity goals.