Table 5 Socioeconomic characteristics of organic and conventional farmers: descriptive statistics (a)
From: Socioeconomic determinants of organic cotton adoption in Benin, West Africa
Conventional (n = 98) | Organic (n = 93) | Total (n = 191) | Statistical test (b) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Age of the producer (year) | 40.5 (11.5) | 43.5 (12.5) | 42.0 (12.0) | −1.75* |
Sex of the producer (% of male) | 91.8 | 49.5 | 71.2 | 41.79*** |
Formal education of the producer (year) | 3.0 (3.7) | 1.1 (2.4) | 2.1 (3.3) | 4.23*** |
Experience in cotton production in general (year) | 13.7 (10.4) | 10.8 (9.6) | 12.3 (10.1) | 1.97* |
Distance between the producer’s house and his farm (km) | 5.0 (7.4) | 2.5 (2.0) | 3.8 (5.6) | 3.20*** |
Household size (number of members) | 10.0 (7.2) | 8.8 (5.2) | 9.4 (6.3) | 1.31 |
Land available for the household (ha) | 17.4 (20.0) | 16.1 (25.8) | 16.8 (23.0) | 0.39 |
Distance between the village and the nearest market place where producer sell their products (km) | 6.3 (8.7) | 8.0 (11.1) | 7.1 (9.9) | −1.18 |
Obtained credit (% of yes) | 28.6 | 25.8 | 27.2 | 0.18 |
Membership of producers’ organization (% of yes) | 57.1 | 90.3 | 73.3 | −26.84*** |
Contact with extension agents (% of yes) | 60.2 | 90.3 | 74.9 | −23.01*** |
Contact with extension agents (number of visits between January and October 2012) | 1.9 (2.2) | 7.0 (8.8) | 4.4 (6.8) | −5.44*** |
Number of oxen owned by the producer for animal traction | 1.1 (2.0) | 0.5 (1.1) | 0.8 (1.7) | 2.78*** |