Hydroagricultural Scheme Adoption and Economic Performance of Rice Farms in Benin

This study investigated factors associated with hydroagricultural scheme adoption and differences in productive and economic performance between rice farms using and not using schemes in Benin. Survey data covered 450 rice farms in Malanville (200), Glazoué (150) and Banikoara (100), of which 361 were users and 89 were non-users. A logistic regression model examined adoption correlates, while inverse probability weighting, nearest-neighbour propensity-score matching and adjusted outcome regression were used to compare yields and economic margins while accounting for measured covariates. Overall adoption was 80.2%, ranging from 60.0% in Banikoara to 70.7% in Glazoué and 97.5% in Malanville. Unadjusted mean rice yields were 4,927 kg ha−1 for users and 3,610 kg ha−1 for non-users. The adjusted yield differences were 1,551 kg ha−1 under inverse probability weighting, 2,317 kg ha−1 under matching and 1,077 kg ha−1 under outcome regression. Membership of a producer organisation was positively associated with adoption, and substantial municipal differences were observed. All three estimators indicated higher yields among users, although estimated magnitudes differed. Economic-margin estimates also favoured users but were highly sensitive to estimator choice and uncertainty in recorded monetary units, revenues and costs. The results suggest a positive association between reported scheme use and rice yield, but the near-universal adoption in Malanville, potential residual confounding and monetary-data concerns limit causal and profitability interpretations.