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Benin

Benin lies on the coast of West Africa. Of the 10.87 million residents, 56% live in rural areas. The agricultural sector contributes 33% to the gross domestic product and 75% to the export revenue of the country. Around 70% of the population works in agriculture. Rice is Benin’s most impor­tant import product. It makes up more than half of the import volume and almost 44% of the import value, while poultry (chicken and turkey) makes up over 10% of the import volume and 22.4% of the import value. In terms of exports, rice represents 9.1% of export volume and 1.3% of export value. Exports of soy products and poultry are negligible; less than 1% for each product. Other important sup­ply chains are maize, pineapple and cashews. The national diet strongly relies on starchy staples, which provide 70% of the total dietary energy supply. Dietary diversity is lacking, notaby in terms of protein, fruits and vegetables.

Read the full PARI country dossier here, and read the country innovation study on the status of agricultural innovations, innovation platforms and innovation investments in Benin here.

Benin on

Publications

Strategies for Transforming Smallholder Farming in Africa

Between pandemics and famines: Towards nutrition-sensitive lockdowns during Covid-19 and beyond

‘We would rather die from Covid-19 than from hunger´ – Exploring lockdown stringencies in five African countries

2020 | R. Birner | N. Blaschke | C. Bosch | T. Daum | S. Graf | D. Güttler | J. Heni | J. Kariuki | R. Katusiime | A. Seidel | Z. N. Senon | G. Woode

Published as Hohenheim Working Papers on Social and Institutional Change in Agricultural Development Nr. 005-2020.

Read the full working paper here.

A study conducted by the University of Hohenheim in five African countries as part of the SEWOH accompanying research on agricultural innovations highlights the dramatic dilemma between lockdowns and food security. Lockdowns primarily affect economic access to food, for example because people in the informal sector lose their jobs, which can lead to calorie and nutrient deficiencies. The study shows that open debates in more democratic countries helped to better maneuver through the dilemma between pandemic and famine.

Read more ‘We would rather die from Covid-19 than from hunger´ – Exploring lockdown stringencies in five African countries

Perceived effects of farm tractors in four African countries, highlighted by participatory impact diagrams

From Potentials to Reality: Transforming Africa’s Food Production

2020 | H. Baumüller | J. von Braun | A. Admassie | O. Badiane | E. Baraké | J. Börner | I. Bozic | B. Chichaibelu | J. Collins | T. Daum | T. Gatiso | N. Gerber | T. Getahun | K. Glatzel | S. Hendriks | O. Kirui | L. Kornher | Z. Kubik | E. Lüdeling | A. Mirzabaev | P.G. Ndiaye | T. Sakketa | M. Shah | G. Tadesse | J. Walakira

The report is avalailable in English and German.

Read the press release to the report here.Read more From Potentials to Reality: Transforming Africa’s Food Production

Investing Sustainably in African Livestock Development: Opportunities and Trade-Offs

India-Africa Partnership in Trade and Investment: With focus on the Agriculture and Food Sector

Impacts of agricultural mechanization: Evidence from four African countries

2020 | Thomas Daum | Ygué P. Adegbola | Geoffrey Kamau | Alpha O. Kergna | Christogonus Daudu | Roch C. Zossou | Géraud F. Crinot | Paul Houssou | Lawrence Mose | Yarama Ndirpaya | A. A. Wahab | Oliver Kirui | Fatunbi A. Oluwole

Published as Hohenheim Working Papers on Social and Institutional Change in Agricultural Development No. 003-2020

Read the full report here.

Read more Impacts of agricultural mechanization: Evidence from four African countries

Evaluation of the Benefits of the Hitched Culture on Farms: Case of Kara and Savannah in the Northern Region of Togo

Understanding the Engagement of Policymakers in the Success or Failure of Agricultural Innovation Processes: Lessons from Africa Countries

Using a Whole-farm modelling approach to assess changes in farming systems with the use of mechanization tools and the adoption of high yielding maize varieties under uncertainty in Northern Benin

Mechanization in African Agriculture: A Continental Overview on Patterns and Dynamics

Generating Employment and Increasing Income in Agricultural Value Chains and Thereby Fostering Food Security: Case Studies of Rice and Cotton in Benin and Senegal

Socio-Economic Analysis of Promising Innovations in Benin

2018 | P.Y. Adegbola | N.R. Ahoyo Adjovi | E. Houedjofonon | H. Elysée | S.E.P. Mensah

Read the full report here.

Published as: Patrice Ygué Adegbola, Nestor René Ahoyo Adjovi, Elysée Houedjofonon and Serge Egide Paulin Mensah (2018) Socio-Economic Analysis of Promising Innovations in Benin. FARA Research Results Vol2(9)

Read more Socio-Economic Analysis of Promising Innovations in Benin

Innovation Opportunities in the Small Ruminants livestock sector in Benin

2018 | S. E. P. Mensah | P. Y. Adégbola | A. K. Edénakpo | N. A. Ahoyo | I. G. Tossa | O. A. Fatunbi

Read the full report here.

Published as Mensah S.E.P. et al. (2018) Innovation Opportunities in the Small Ruminants livestock sector in Benin. FARA, INRAB and ZEF.

PARI Policy Brief No. 9: Innovation for Sustainable Agricultural Growth in Africa – Insights from Research Dossiers on 12 PARI Partner Countries

Impact of Climate Change Adaptation Strategies on Farm Yields and Income in Benin

Functions and Impacts of Multi-Stakeholder Platforms in Benin

Innovation for Sustainable Agricultural Growth – 12 Country Dossiers

Change in crop management strategies could double the maize yield in Africa

Smartphone App: Food-Recommender

The ReSAKSS Country eAtlases

2017

The ReSAKSS Country eAtlases is a GIS-based mapping tool designed to help policy analysts and policymakers access and use high quality and highly disaggregated data on agricultural, socio-economic, and bio-physical indicators to guide agricultural policy and investment decisions.

Country Innovation Studies

2016 | Prepared by the PARI national partners and FARA

The Innovation Studies for the 12 African PARI countries provide an overview of the status of agricultural innovations, innovation platforms and innovation investment in the respective country. Read more Country Innovation Studies

Policy brief series: Agricultural innovations in Benin

On the use of agricultural system models for exploring technological innovations across scales in Africa: A critical review

2016 | R.P. Rötter | F.L. Sehomi | J.G. Höhn | J.K. Niemi | M. van den Berg

Published as: ZEF – Discussion Papers on Development Policy No. 23, Center for Development Research, Bonn.

Download full paper

Download literature database

PARI Policy Brief No. 1: Strategic Directions for Development Collaboration for Food Security and Agricultural Growth in Sub-Saharan Africa

Tapping Potentials of Innovation for Food Security and Sustainable Agricultural Growth – an Africa-wide Perspective

Report on Potentials and Cooperation Opportunities in African Countries

Potentials and Possibilities for German Collaboration in Agriculture – 12 Country Dossiers

Regional trade and volatility in staple food markets in Africa