Reaching Beninese Farmers Through CATI

Benin’s agricultural sector is moving beyond simply producing for the next harvest, with growing attention on how farmers can reach better markets, add value to what they produce and earn more from their work. Yet access to finance, storage, processing facilities and reliable market opportunities continues to influence how much rural households gain from agriculture.

This is where Computer-Assisted Telephone Interviewing (CATI) becomes a powerful solution. For organizations investing in or evaluating agricultural initiatives in Benin, it is important to understand what happens between the farm and the market. At CATI Africa, we use telephone surveys to speak directly with farmers about their experiences, helping clients understand access to finance, agricultural services, buyers, processing opportunities and the changes taking place in rural livelihoods.

Supporting Agricultural Research, Monitoring and Evaluation

CATI gives organizations a practical way to:

• Reach farmers and other rural respondents across different parts of Benin
• Understand how farmers access markets, finance and agricultural services
• Gather feedback on support reaching producers and farming communities
• Follow changes in farmers’ experiences as agricultural initiatives progress

A farmer may increase production and still struggle to earn more if storage, processing or market access remains limited. Speaking directly with farmers can reveal these gaps and show whether agricultural interventions are creating meaningful improvements beyond the farm.

Across Benin, organizations can use CATI for:

• Agricultural value chain research
• Farmer income and market access studies
• Agricultural programme assessments
• Research on access to farming services and finance

At CATI Africa, we help governments, NGOs, development partners, agribusinesses and research institutions hear directly from agricultural communities in Benin. Our telephone surveys help clients understand where farmers are gaining ground, where obstacles remain and how agricultural investments can deliver greater value for the communities they are intended to serve.