Benin

Benin

Rikolto builds on track record of over 40 years in agricultural development in the region. In 2024, we reached 751 rice producers.

Currently, we are running our Sustainable rice programme in the country.

Sustainable Rice programme highlights for 2024

2024 marked a transitional year for Benin with the conclusion of Enabel’s DEFIA programme which supported 2,145 producers, 89.8% of whom adopted at least one of three agroecological innovations: the intensive rice-growing system, good agricultural practices (GAP) aligned with the SRP standard, and either neem-coated urea or vermicompost and its tea. The resulting evidence led to the publication of nine technical documents and two brochures on the SRP standard by INRAB, the national institute for agricultural research. This capitalisation process and scaling-up planning phase was supported with Rikolto’s own funds, while the new PARSAD/Enabel programme starting in 2025 will ensure the dissemination of the materials in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture to promote large-scale adoption of sustainable rice practices. The new project builds on the DEFIA area in the South and expands to a new agricultural region to support 4,500 rice new farmers and promote sustainable rice “Made in Benin."

Projects

Resilient rice actors for healthier urban rice in Benin

The resilience of the Beninese rice sector is at stake due to the severe impacts of climate change and its still weak commercial performance on local markets. In consortium with the National Consultative Council of Rice Farmers of Benin (CCR-B) Rikolto is implementing interventions to "Strengthen the resilience of actors against climate change in the rice sector in Benin and sustainably supply cities with healthy rice" as part of a larger programme (DEFIA - Development of Entrepreneurship in Agricultural Sectors, implemented by Enabel with DGD grants.
Updated on:
July 24, 2025

West African rice farmers reconquering the local rice market

Rice farmers' organisations in Benin, Burkina Faso, Mali and Senegal are improving their competitiveness and their relations with the private and public sectors to win back larger shares of the rice market in West Africa.
Updated on:
July 24, 2025

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