Assessing the vulnerability of family farms to rainfall-induced flood risks in the municipality of Kandi, Benin

Abstract. The study assesses the vulnerability of family farms to rainfall-induced flooding in the municipality of Kandi, northern Benin, using the IPCC vulnerability framework based on exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity. Data were collected from 80 agricultural producers across ten villages through structured interviews and analyzed across five types of capital: human, physical, financial, social, and natural. Results reveal significant disparities between farm categories. Small farms (≤ 5 ha) exhibit very high vulnerability (4.5/5), marked by low education levels (38.9 % uneducated), limited mechanization (83.3 % without access), and poor credit availability (77.8 % excluded). Medium farms (5–20 ha) show moderate vulnerability (≈ 3.0/5), with 61% having access to mechanization and 46.3% to credit, but still constrained by low income diversification. Large farms (>20 ha) demonstrate low vulnerability (≈ 1.5/5), benefiting from strong assets: 76.2 % mechanized, 71.4 % with credit access, 90.5 % participating in cooperatives, and 57.1 % cultivating fertile soils. The analysis highlights an inverse correlation between farm size and flood vulnerability, reflecting structural inequalities in access to productive and adaptive resources. Strengthening human and financial capital among smallholders – through literacy, agricultural training, microfinance, and cooperative mechanization – is crucial to enhance resilience. This research contributes to climate vulnerability literature by integrating socio-economic and biophysical indicators into a composite framework, emphasizing the multidimensional nature of vulnerability and the need for inclusive adaptation policies in northern Benin.