Introduction

Climate change is threatening food systems across West Africa. Temperatures are becoming increasingly unpredictable, rainfall is concentrated into shorter periods, and droughts alternate with more frequent floods. In Benin, the Ouémé Valley, recognized as the second most fertile valley in the world after the Nile, has enormous agricultural potential but faces growing rainfall variability and soil degradation. In response, farming communities are adopting agroecological practices that improve soil health, water management, and crop diversity, strengthening climate resilience despite gender-based differences in agricultural roles that remain insufficiently documented.

Who Practices Agroecology? Gender Roles in Farming Systems

In West African farming systems, agroecological activities are divided along gender lines. Women farmers play a central role in water management, preserving local seed varieties, producing food for household consumption, and maintaining home gardens. In the Ouémé Valley, they are heavily involved in flood recession farming on fertile land exposed after seasonal floodwaters recede, a practice that relies on a detailed understanding of local hydrological cycles. Women make up approximately 40 to 50% of the region’s agricultural workforce and contribute significantly to local food security, while men are more commonly engaged in cash crop production.

Access to Agroecological Innovations: Barriers and Opportunities

Access to agroecological innovations, including water conservation technologies, improved seeds, and soil fertility management techniques, varies according to several factors. Agricultural studies show that women in Sub Saharan Africa face a credit access gap of about 30 to 40% compared with men, limiting their ability to invest in these innovations. Their participation in technical training and agricultural extension services also remains unequal. These barriers slow the adoption of agroecological practices. However, evidence shows that when women gain access to training, credit, and appropriate technologies, crop yields become 20 to 30% more stable in the face of climate shocks.

Agricultural Knowledge Systems: Passing Knowledge Across Generations

Agroecology in West Africa is rooted in knowledge passed down through generations, including an understanding of local rainfall and flood cycles, soil management techniques, and crop diversification. This knowledge is often transmitted within households, particularly from older women to younger generations. As climate change intensifies, this combination of traditional knowledge and practical innovation offers a strong pathway for adaptation. However, migration and rapid environmental change threaten its continuity. Supporting these locally rooted knowledge systems, largely sustained by women farmers, strengthens both ecological resilience and regional food security.

Conclusion

A better understanding of agroecological practices, including social roles, access to resources, and local knowledge systems, is essential for strengthening climate resilience in West Africa. Adaptation policies that recognize the diversity of agricultural actors and support intergenerational innovation are more effective. Investing in agroecology means investing in food security, ecological sustainability, and the empowerment of farming communities across the continent.