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It is thought that cattle husbandry will become more intensive, pushed by the increasing demand for animal products. The preferences for types of cattle management by households in the Saint Louis region, Senegal, under the hypothetical condition of further diminishing grassland availability, are investigated. Several times the respondents are asked to make a choice between different types of cattle management of which one always is: 'I do not buy industrial feed and accept the negative consequences on my herd.'. Different statistical models are used to analyse the data. The results give information about the ongoing intensification process of cattle husbandry in the Saint Louis region, where common land is rented by agricultural export companies. Preference differences are studied as well, resulting in the division of the households into three groups. About 40% of the households have a large herd and a strong preference for further herd size increase. About 20% of the households are beef producers that sell according to the demand. The remaining 40% are mostly interested in higher milk production to provide in daily survival needs. Surprisingly, the choice for a type of cattle management is not influenced by the price of industrial feed. Consequently the Senegalese government could reallocate the money put in feed subsidising to other projects such as the provision of basic and livestock related education (especially for households of the Peulh ethnicity and for households not living within the Senegal Delta), or the establishment of dairy plants (especially for fresh milk of poorer women). Besides, partnerships between the Senegalese government and agricultural companies can result in effective projects supporting the intensification of cattle husbandry.

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Fairtrade aims to strengthen smallholders' market position while insuring an ethical and healthy work environment. Fairtrade certifies producers' organizations in order to reach these goals and make sure that certified products are of good quality. Nevertheless few studies have researched how smallholders in developing countries value western based conditions and related contract terms. The preference of farmers towards different contract characteristics whereof some Fairtrade characteristics is estimated in this master thesis. 304 Beninese rice farmers were interrogated for this aim. There was asked about their preference towards contract characteristics whereof the prohibition of childlabour, regulations concerning herbicide use, the presence of a social premium for the producers' organization and pre-financing are typical Fairtrade certification terms. The results revealed a high average preference to sell their rice on the local market instead of participate in a contract. When a farmer chooses the contract option, he prefers a higher price, a premium for the producer organization, pre-financing for inputs, inputs on credit and training on herbicide use. They would accept also contracts that limit the amount of fertilizer used (in line with their specific experience with this practice) in comparison with contracts that impose a total ban on chemical fertilizer. The prohibition of fertilizer and to a lesser extend the prohibition of child labour are the main barriers for smallholders to participate in a contract. Not every farmer has the same preference towards a certain contract. Farmers experienced with contracting who live close to the market prefer contracts that provide pre-financing over contracts that deliver inputs on credit, while farmers who live further from the market and have no contract experience prefer contracts that deliver inputs on credit. More adapted contract schemes are necessary because the preference for different contract characteristics differs among smallholders. Firms and NGOs that want to implement a contract can offer pre-financing to smallholders that live close to the market, while presenting contracts that deliver inputs on credit to smallholders that live further from the market. In this way smallholders' needs are better fulfilled while the firms' offers are used more properly and thus more efficient.