Drivers and perceptions of cattle farmers towards tree planting on farmland in Benin, West Africa: Pathways to agroforestry adoption

Cattle farmers in Africa increasingly face pasture degradation and declining forage resources, relying primarily on naturally occurring woody species to feed livestock during the dry season. Despite their critical role, the deliberate integration of trees through agroforestry remains limited, with little scientific understanding of what drives farmers’ willingness to plant trees. This study fills this knowledge gap by analyzing the determinants and perceptions influencing tree-planting decisions among 450 cattle farmers across Benin. Using descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression, the study identified multiple perceived benefits of tree planting, including improved forage and shade availability, enhanced milk production and animal weight, erosion control, soil fertility improvement, and reduced pressure on forest fragments. Thirteen woody species from eight families were adopted by the farmers, with Leucaena leucocephala (75.6%), Khaya senegalensis (55.6%), Afzelia africana (43.3%), Pterocarpus erinaceus (33.3%), and Mangifera indica (25.6%) being the most frequently planted. Overall, 75.1% of the respondents expressed their willingness to plant trees or shrubs. Education level, farmland size, and farm-forest distance were the key variables influencing the adoption of tree planting. This study provides the first comprehensive analysis of determinants of agroforestry adoption in livestock-based systems in Benin, offering evidence-based guidance for designing targeted interventions that enhance both climate resilience and sustainability of livestock production in West African agropastoral contexts.