Bénin transforms agriculture with local processing push for food security
Adin Yeton Bloukounon Goubalan, Bénin’s minister for agriculture, livestock and fisheries, has just completed an intensive three-day visit across the country. Travelling from the central region up to the north, the official delivered a clear message: Bénin can no longer afford to sell unprocessed crops overseas. Instead, the nation must turn its raw harvests into finished goods right at home, securing food supplies and creating prosperity.
The Béninese government is racing against time to overhaul its farming sector. From 11 to 13 June, Minister Goubalan inspected several strategic agricultural zones, among them Paouignan, Glazoué and Parakou. The goal was to confirm that the president’s ambition—a definitive break with exporting untreated commodities—is being turned into a tangible industrial drive.
Rice and cassava: steps towards self-sufficiency
Encouraging developments are emerging in rice production. At Glazoué, the Premium agribusiness group, already a major player in paddy rice processing, declared a significant ramp-up in investments. A third milling unit is underway in Dangbo. When operational, the company’s total annual capacity will climb from 300,000 to 500,000 tonnes of rice—a vital move to reduce Bénin’s dependence on imported Asian rice.
Over in Paouignan, cassava—known locally as “white gold”—is the centre of attention. Construction of a new processing plant is nearly finished. The facility will turn out gari, tapioca and, crucially, bread-making flour, offering a substitute for expensive wheat imports. What sets this project apart is its management: a novel co-management arrangement between private enterprise and local farmer groups. This model is designed to share profits equitably and safeguard rural employment.
Cashew nuts: crackdown on cross-border smuggling
Despite progress in processing, the sector faces a serious hurdle: securing enough raw materials. In the cashew industry, domestic processors have raised the alarm about illegal shipments of raw nuts to neighbouring nations. Minister Goubalan responded forcefully, vowing to tighten border surveillance and ensure that local factories get first access to available stocks. For the government, letting raw cashews leave the country is the same as exporting jobs meant for Bénin’s youth.
Cotton: aiming for 700,000 tonnes with a producer bonus
The tour ended with cotton—the most delicate pillar of Bénin’s agricultural economy. After three straight seasons of declining output, the authorities are determined to reignite growth. The target is 700,000 tonnes for the 2026–2027 campaign. To encourage farmers and help them cope with rising input costs, the president introduced a special incentive: an extra 10 FCFA per kilogram of cotton produced, paid once the national threshold of 700,000 tonnes is met.
With a tough stance on smuggling, direct financial rewards for growers, and large-scale industrial projects, Bénin is forging a more resilient farming sector. The obstacles ahead remain logistical and climatic—but the political resolve seems solidly in place.
