TITLE:
Diagnosis of Agroecological Practices in the Commune of Savalou, Tchetti District
AUTHORS:
Codjo Gaston Ouikoun, Flore Brigitte Exaucée Aholou, Kotchikpa Justin Ekpo, Florent Yalinkpon, Codjo Emile Agbangba, Chèpo Daniel Chougourou
KEYWORDS:
Diagnosis, Agroecological Practices, Productivity, Culture, Benin
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Environmental Protection,
Vol.17 No.1,
January
26,
2026
ABSTRACT: Agriculture faces various challenges, including climate change, low productivity, loss of fertility, and disruption of supply chains. Agroecology emerges as an effective and reliable solution, taking an increasing place in agricultural development policies. In this context, the Tool for Agroecology Performance Evaluation (TAPE) was developed to assess the performance of agroecological systems and their contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This study evaluated the level of agroecological transition of farms in Savalou, in the Tchetti district, using a sample of 123 farms based on the Krejcie and Morgan [1] method. Steps 1 and 2 of TAPE revealed a low level of transition, with only four (4) elements of agroecology out of 10 exceeding 60%. A more advanced level of transition was linked to responsible governance, better recycling, and increased synergy in the agrosystem. The systems show high exposure to class II and III pesticides, low agricultural biodiversity (Gini-Simpson index of 58%), and an added value of 318,000 CFA francs/year. The scores for human and social values, food cultures, and circular economy positively influenced the Women’s Empowerment in Agriculture Index (WEAI: 69.04%) and income estimated at 756,000 CFA francs/family labor unit/year. The level of transition of farms impacts their performance. In conclusion, TAPE proves to be a useful tool to support producers in the adoption of sustainable agroecological practices.