S21 - Session O1 - Ecological and organic plantain: a new model for income improvement and economic growth in benin

Authors: Rene Tokannou *

In Benin, bananas and plantains are produced in a very secondary way by households next to dwellings or on small plots at very low density, without or with the use of synthetic chemical inputs. In 2018, Benin's annual production was only 22,000 tonnes. However, bananas and plantains are part of the population's eating habits and are in high demand nationally and regionally. It is believed that improved plantain production systems could benefit producers, consumers and the national economy. It is for this purpose and especially to promote production systems without synthetic chemical inputs that the Ecological organic agriculture (EOA) Project in Benin, started in 2019, research work to improve banana and plantains production systems. These improvements concern in particular: tillage and its organic amendment before planting, the planting material used, the planting density, the irrigation system (use of solar pumps and water distribution materials). The first results indicate a relatively heavy investment cost (up to CFAF 7,500,000 per ha), but light annual operating costs (CFAF 1,500,000 / year / ha). The 1st cycle harvests are made between the 9th and the 11th month and those following every 7 months. On average, revenues per cycle amount to CFAF 5,250,000 / ha. Thus, the entire initial investment is amortized with the first 2 harvest cycles. A projection over the first 4 years indicates an average annual income of CFAF 4,500,000 per ha. It emerges that an intensification of ecological and organic production of plantains will induce an unprecedented improvement in the average income of households / businesses and growth of the national economy through, among other things, the taxes to be collected on imports of solar equipment for irrigation. The main constraint to this agroecological intensification of plantain production remains access to initial investment funds for households and micro enterprises. It will therefore be necessary to put in place suitable financial mechanisms such as loans at moderate interest rates over a period of 18 months, for example.