Land Ownership, Youth and Agricultural Performance Among Maize Farmers in Republic of Benin

Abstract

Access to land plays a major role in the low performance of the food production system in developing countries. The present study analysed the effect of land ownership on young and old farmers’ performance and the potential yield difference among the two groups by using Endogenous Switching Regression Model, based on a random survey of 354 maize farmers. One-third of the farmers interviewed were young. Availability of family land and experience in farming affected young and old farmers differently. Old farmers who have personal or family land ownership have higher yield compared to farmers who rent their farms. Land ownership did not affect the youth yield, meaning only the availability of the land is important for youth, the incremental cost of getting the land does not matter. Land ownership is important in farmers’ performance; therefore, government should take measure to protect agricultural land against land grabbing.