Projecting Climate Change Impacts on Benin’s Cereal Production by 2050: A SARIMA and PLS-SEM Analysis of FAO Data

Globally, agriculture is facing significant challenges due to climate change, which is seriously affecting grain yields. This research aims to analyze the significant effect of climate change (temperature and rainfall) on cereal production in Benin. The choice of Benin is explained by its strong dependence on agriculture and its vulnerability to climatic variations. This study employed climate and agricultural data from FAO and ASECNA (1990–2020) to evaluate the impacts of climate change on cereal production. SARIMA time-series models were used for forecasting, while the PLS-SEM approach assessed the relationships between climate variables and cereal production. The findings reveal a rise in temperatures and a gradual decline in precipitation. Despite these challenges, the time-series analysis suggests that Beninese farmers are expanding cultivated areas, successfully increasing production levels, and improving yields. Projections to 2050 indicate an increase in areas and production for maize and rice, while sorghum shows a constant trend. However, even with these projections, it is recommended to explore, in more depth, the resilience strategies used by cereal producers to better understand their influence and refine the orientations of future agricultural policies.