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Environmental Efficiency of Organic and Conventional Cotton in Benin

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  • Régina D.C. Bonou-zin

    (Département d’économie et de sociologie appliquée à l’agriculture, Institut Agronomique et Vétérinaire Hassan II, Madinat Al Irfane, B.P. 6202, Rabat 10101, Morocco
    Département d’économie et de sociologie rurales, Faculté d’Agronomie, Université de Parakou, Parakou BP 123, Bénin)

  • Khalil Allali

    (Département d’économie et de sociologie appliquée à l’agriculture, Institut Agronomique et Vétérinaire Hassan II, Madinat Al Irfane, B.P. 6202, Rabat 10101, Morocco
    Ecole Nationale d’Agriculture de Meknès (Morocco), Département d’Economie Rurale, B.P. S/40, Meknès 50001, Morocco)

  • Aziz Fadlaoui

    (Department of Management of Natural Resources, Economics and Sociology and Quality, Regional Agricultural Research Center, Meknes, BP 578 (VN), Meknès 50000, Morocco)

Abstract

Recent years have seen an increasing awareness of the relative advantage of organic and conventional agriculture. This study aims to analyze the environmental efficiency of organic and conventional cotton in Benin. A Translog hyperbolic distance function which allows us to consider the joint production of desirable and undesirable output is used to analyze the environmental efficiency among organic and conventional cotton production farmers. The model includes factors that affect environmental efficiency. Greenhouse gas (GHG) was used as an indicator of undesirable output. Data were collected from 355 cotton producers (180 organics and 175 conventional) randomly selected in the cotton belt of Northern Benin. The results show that although organic cotton producers contribute less to GHG emission, they are environmentally inefficient compared to their conventional counterparts. Producers could improve the quantity of cotton produced by 27% and 17% while reducing emissions by 21% and 14% respectively for both organic and conventional cotton to achieve better environmental performance. However, the analysis of the shadow price revealed that organic cotton producers face lower opportunity cost than conventional producers. These results suggest that there is a need for more technical support and environmental education to improve the environmental efficiency of organic cotton in Benin.

Suggested Citation

  • Régina D.C. Bonou-zin & Khalil Allali & Aziz Fadlaoui, 2019. "Environmental Efficiency of Organic and Conventional Cotton in Benin," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(11), pages 1-17, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:11:y:2019:i:11:p:3044-:d:235450
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    2. Chabi Simin Najib Dafia & Fei Chen & Peter Davis Sumo, 2022. "Guideline and Strategies of Textile Industry on the Sustainable Development of Benin," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-18, October.
    3. Baha, Michael & Henningsen, Arne & Elleby, Christian & Mlay, Gilead, 2021. "Competitiveness of Currently Practiced and Alternative Cotton Production Methods in Meatu District, Tanzania," 2021 Conference, August 17-31, 2021, Virtual 315901, International Association of Agricultural Economists.
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