TITLE:
Assessment of Flood Impacts on Agricultural Production and Ecological Vulnerability in the Municipality of Bonou, Benin
AUTHORS:
Sêmêdéton Samson Irène Kossou, Pocoun Damè Kombienou, Euloge Ogouwale
KEYWORDS:
Vulnerability, Floods, Agricultural Production, Municipality of Bonou
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Environmental Protection,
Vol.17 No.9,
September
30,
2026
ABSTRACT: Recurrent flooding is a major constraint on agricultural sustainability and productivity in the municipality of Bonou. This study examines the impacts of flooding on agricultural production and ecological vulnerability within the municipality of Bonou. The methodological approach combines literature review, socio-economic surveys, data processing, and analysis of the results. Data processing involves the use of SPSS 17.0 and ArcGIS 10.8 software. The findings reveal that rainfall rates range from −1.90 to 2.69 over the time period (1961-2024). In addition, the years are classified as ‘dry’ in 57 per cent of cases and ‘wet’ in 43 per cent. The rainfall decline began in the 1970s. Drainage density varies from 4.2 to 50.98. Indeed, the districts have a high drainage density of 25%; 17% have medium drainage, and 57% have low drainage density. In the municipality of Bonou, the intensity index of rainfall causing flooding ranges from 1419.68 to 12,027.08. The average monthly river discharge recorded throughout the study period is 172.24 m3/s. Floods last from 2 days (4 per cent of respondents) to more than a month (61 per cent of respondents). The prolonged submersion of Bonou’s fertile floodplains suffocates the roots of staple crops such as maize and cassava, rotting them completely even before harvest. Flooding also causes the sudden submersion of traditional granaries and storage areas, destroying reserves of maize, cassava, and rice and depriving households of their immediate food security. The sudden rise in waters surprises livestock farmers, causing most small livestock and poultry to drown instantly. Flooding causes widespread leaching of surrounding agricultural lands, releasing substantial quantities of sediments, pesticides, and organic waste into the river system.