Socio-economic characteristics of Fulani's households in Northeastern Benin

Fulani belong to a socio-cultural group predominantly met in western Africa and usually
raises cattle. Known as a nomadic group, Fulani have become increasingly more settled and
combine crop farming with livestock husbandry. In Benin Fulani are predominant in the two
eastern departments of the north. This community plays a key role in meat and milk supply in
the country. But deep information on their household characteristics is scarce so that specific
development actions concerning their activities are scarce. This study was carried out to
characterize their household and highlight their livelihood strategies in the three agroecological conditions of the study area. 150 Fulani livestock keepers randomly selected were
interviewed in 2013. The results show that the average household size is 18 people of which
22% are directly involved in cattle farming. The land is mostly inherited and the average size
for a household is about 10.5 ha. Half of the land size is devoted to crops farming mainly
80% for home consumption and 17% to cotton production. Their livestock includes cattle,
sheep, goats and poultry (chickens and Guinea fowl). Cattle represent 50% of the household
livestock size. Cattle provide daily milk consumed at 51%; the rest is sold. Fulani also sell in
average one cattle per month. In less favorable ecological conditions, they derive their
income mainly from livestock. While in the regions where it rains more, they diversify their
incomes by investing in food crops and cash crop (cotton mainly) farming.