Y1 Progress report | Alassan Assani Seidou

Improving Decision-Making of Pastoral Land Politics for Women Livestock Farmers in Drylands of Benin (West Africa)

In the first year of this Programme, I focused on refining the research design, conducting fieldwork, engaging stakeholders and collecting empirical data. A mixed socio-economic and transdisciplinary approach was used, combining household surveys, semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions, field observations and longitudinal monitoring of selected livestock farms. These methods helped capture both quantitative data and the lived experiences of women livestock farmers.

• Field activities were carried out in northern Benin, where livestock farming is important for rural livelihoods. Still, women’s access to land, grazing areas, water, feed resources, and productive assets remains limited by social, customary, economic, and institutional constraints.

  
  

• Data were collected on socio-demographic characteristics, livestock ownership, feeding practices, herd management, land access, resource constraints, decision-making and adaptation strategies. The project also advanced in data cleaning, organisation and preliminary analysis. The database now includes both cross-sectional and longitudinal information, providing a solid basis for analysing the links between women’s land access, livestock practices, productivity and resilience.

  
  

• Scientific writing progressed, with three manuscripts under preparation: one on gender roles and preferences in ruminant feeding practices, one on women’s access to land and productive resources, and one systematic review on women, land tenure and livestock farming in sub-Saharan Africa.

The main challenges relate to field mobility, long distances, language barriers, limited availability of respondents and the sensitivity of land-related discussions. These were managed through flexible planning, repeated visits, local facilitators and respectful engagement.

My understanding of transdisciplinary research has changed significantly over the last 12 months. At the beginning of the project, I understood transdisciplinarity primarily as the integration of several academic disciplines, such as animal science, agronomy, sociology, rural economics, and land governance. However, through the project's implementation, I came to understand that transdisciplinary research goes beyond the mere integration of disciplines. It also requires the active involvement of communities, local authorities, extension agents, policy actors and other stakeholders in the research process. It helped me to understand transdisciplinary research as a collaborative and problem-oriented approach. It is not only about producing knowledge, but also about co-learning with stakeholders and generating evidence that can contribute to practical solutions for women livestock farmers.

This project showed me that women livestock farmers are not only respondents, but also knowledge holders. Their experiences, perceptions and local strategies are essential for understanding the real challenges of land access and livestock management. Further, the project also demonstrated the importance of combining scientific methods with local knowledge to produce research that is both academically rigorous and socially relevant. My understanding also improved through the need to connect research findings with policy and practice. Land access for women livestock farmers cannot be fully understood through animal production alone. It is also linked to customary norms, gender relations, land legislation, household decision-making, resource governance and rural development policies. Therefore, the research must bridge the gap between academic analysis, community realities and policy action.

Indigenous Knowledge has been an important part of the fieldwork. Women livestock farmers possess rich local knowledge of animal feeding, seasonal availability of feed resources, grazing areas, crop residues, access to water, animal health, and adaptation to land scarcity. During field visits, some women explained how they identify local feed resources, combine different feed materials, and adjust feeding practices according to the season. Incorporating Indigenous Knowledge in the research has been useful for understanding the practical realities of livestock farming beyond what can be captured through formal questionnaires. For example, women often know which local plants, crop residues or household by-products are useful for feeding animals during periods of feed shortage. They also understand the social rules governing access to land, grazing areas, and shared resources. However, there were also some challenges. Some forms of local knowledge are transmitted orally and are difficult to quantify. In addition, some practices are embedded in cultural norms and belief systems, which require careful interpretation. It was therefore important not to treat Indigenous Knowledge as anecdotal, but as a valuable source of information that complements scientific data.

One memorable experience occurred during a farm monitoring visit, when a discussion of feeding practices turned into an informal demonstration. A woman livestock farmer started showing the research team how she prepares local feed for animals using available resources. This quickly attracted other women and community members, and the discussion became lively, with laughter, debates and shared experiences. This moment showed the richness of local knowledge and the strong engagement of women livestock farmers. It also demonstrated that field research can become a space for peer learning and knowledge exchange. Such encounters strengthened trust between the research team and the community and enriched the quality of the data collected.

Annual report submitted by Dr Alassan Assani Seidou

(summarised for publication by Heidi Sonnekus for the FAR-LeaF Programme)