In Benin, a $20.8 million project to restore agricultural soils.

Dubbed “Sustainable Food Systems for Greater Resilience and Food and Nutrition Security in Benin”, the project is supported by the Beninese government with the assistance of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the GEF. The official launch of the project took place at the Benin Royal Hotel, in Cotonou, presided over by the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, and Fisheries, Adin Yeton Bloukounon Goubalan.

According to data presented by the minister, a survey conducted in 2019 estimated that over 5 million people, or about 40% of the population, were exposed to land degradation. Nearly 38% of the national territory was considered degraded at that time. This situation reduces access to essential services provided by ecosystems, including food and water, and increases their economic vulnerability.

Soil degradation also impacts agricultural yields. The minister noted that it could lead to a decrease of at least 50% in crop productivity. The low yields thus perpetuate a cycle of precariousness for producers, who face limited income and increasing pressure on the land.

20,000 hectares of land to be restored

The project will be implemented until 2030 in the municipalities of Karimama, Malanville, Glazoué, Kétou, and Les Aguégués. It aims to restore 20,000 hectares of degraded land and apply sustainable agricultural practices on an additional 114,900 hectares.

In total, 36,000 direct beneficiaries and 356,000 final beneficiaries are targeted. The interventions will mainly focus on rice and maize sectors, two crops widely consumed in Benin, both in rural and urban areas.

The program aims to influence the entire food systems, from production to markets, including public policies and value chains. The goal is to transform these sectors, characterized by perceived insufficient productivity and high environmental pressures, into more integrated and efficient models.

The total cost of the project amounts to $20,766,207. The GEF contributes $5,966,207, while the Beninese counterpart is estimated at $14.8 million.

Agriculture represents on average 26% of Benin’s Gross Domestic Product, nearly 80% of export revenues, and around 70% of jobs, according to figures presented at the launch. Therefore, soil restoration is a critical agricultural, economic, and environmental issue for the country.

The minister called for vigilance regarding the choice of technologies intended for land restoration, stressing that they should be evaluated before deployment. The FAO Resident Representative in Benin, Paul-Henri Zoéwindé Bouda, emphasized that the success of the project would depend on the mobilization of the institutions responsible for its implementation, the producers, and all beneficiaries.