Focus on the Strategy «Feeding Africa»

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AGROBUSINESS REPORT AGRICULTURE Production and trade of Yam’s festival in Bénin Permaculture: farming commestibles mushrooms when, culture and food respectful of human and in Benin become allied nature

N°4 | September-November 2017

Focus on the strategy «Feeding Africa»

Réseau des Jeunes et Femmes Entrepreneurs du Secteur Agricole Bitah Classic, flour for porridge

■ Made with millet and enriched with baobab. ■ Rich in protein, mineral salts (Calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc), vitamins (B,C) ■ Increases resistance to fatigue, ■ Healthcare ■ Slows aging ■ Promotes a very good lactation rise in lactating women Bitah Classic is not advising for children under two years old because of its high fiber content.

+229 61 62 86 51 +229 96 78 33 65

Parasel-Bio for your cooking ■ Marinating meat, fish and vegetables. ■ Salting sauces, pasta, rice. ■ For tea and fruit salads. It replaces validly in our kitchen : ► stocks cubes ► The iodized salt ► the spices 500 f cfa the bag 1.000 f cfa the jar

CONTACT: +229 95 65 68 06 SUMMARY EDITORIAL

Promoting agritourism for agricultural N°4 and rural development NEWS 2| Focus: Strategy «Feeding Africa» AGRICULTURE Marthe Montcho, Chief editor 5| Permaculture: farming respectful Agrotourism is a tourist activity complementary of human and nature to agriculture taking place on a farm. It connects Interview: conservation agriculture agricultural producers with tourists, enabling 7| them to discover the agricultural environment, in Africa agriculture and its production through the reception and information offered by their host. Thus agrotourism is an agricultural diversifi- INNOVATION cation process in the sense that it enables rural communities to revitalize their economies locally 8| Mechanization of craft’s and to counteract the agricultural crisis. It is a solution to be processing units considered to bring the townspeople closer to the agricultural world. It is clear that the role of agrotourism is to create contact between the ENVIRONMENT visitor, often from the city, and the farmer. Without exchange, there is no agrotourism. 10| Preservation of soil fertility, Agrotourism mainly concerns agricultural enterprises that are smaller functions of covers crops than average. They benefit more from the positive economic impact of agrotourism. It is therefore very important to promote agrotourism. It ECONOMY has a major impact on the marketing of agricultural products, on the Decryption: agricultural diversification of production and on the tourist offer. It has the power 12| to interest new producers and several members of the family. This di- cooperatives in Bénin versification contributes to the social rapprochement between the two worlds. This will undoubtedly contribute to a better understanding of 14| Agritourism or tourism in the the profession of farmer by the young people and will certainly raise farm the desire to become farmer or agricultural contractor in the latter. Agrotourism in Africa, specifically Benin’s agrotourism, must highlight AGROBUSINESS products derived from agriculture. The sale of commodities is often 16| Discorvery of Mushrooms one of the elements linked to the desire to make agro-tourism. As an outlet for products, agro-tourism is an undeniable contribution to the house development of agriculture. Agrotourism must also allow the valori- sation of our cultural heritage. Finally, agrotourism has to attract a lot AGRO-REPORT more investors in our rural communities, very rich in potentialities. Yam’s festival in Bénin: when 18| Our goal is to contribute to agricultural and rural development, so culture and food become allied «rural voice» and the «Network of Young Entrepreneurs of the Agri- cultural Sector-REJEUFEA» strongly support agrotourism as it is both 20| Focus on GMO of Ouinhi an axis of agricultural and rural development. Through agro-tourism, agricultural enterprises and their products are developed and activities 22|OPPORTUNITIES complementary to agriculture are created on the farm. 22|PUBLICATIONS I thanks all those who involved in agricultural and rural development; the members of our community «the rural voice» for the implementa- VOR is a quaterly magazine of «Réseau des Jeunes et Femmes Entrepreneurs du Secteur Agricole». Tél: +229 tion and achievement of our common goal: agricultural and rural development. I urge all of us to continue in this position so that we can live 97843472. E-mail: [email protected]. Director of «the rural voice» for increased agricultural productivity and effective publication: Marthe Montcho. Writting: Marthe Montcho. development of our rural communities. ■ Mikhaïl Padonou. Contributors: Ephrèm Dayou. Espoir Gaglo. Yannick Odjo. Joël Gbaguidi. DESIGN & LAYOUT: Mikhaïl Padonou. COVER: BAD © REJEUFEA 2017

1| VOR 4 THE NEWS

Strategy « Feeding Africa » of AfDB, what hope in 2025? 315 to 400 billions USD before 2025 to transform African agriculture

Mikhaïl Padonou

n September first, 2015, the nal chance for the diversification of the 21 till 23 October 2015, under the initiative 8th President elected of Afri- agricultural production. In spite of it high of the bank, the Secretaries of agriculture, Ocan Development Bank (AfDB), potential and although the farming is the economy and the industries, the gover- Akinwumi Adesina announced during activity of 60% of africa’s active popula- nors of the central banks, the business ma- a conference in the office of the institu- tions so contributing about the third of its nagers, representatives of the private sec- tion, five priority sectors in which the GDP, Africa remains still vulnerable in tor and the civil society, researchers and bank plans to invest on the horizon 2025. the food insecurity. We count indeed 232 experts of the continent met in Dakar (Se- Among these sectors, agriculture through millions of underfed there or approxima- negal) for a high-level conference on the the program « Feeding Africa « occupies a tely a person out of four. agriculture and food-processing industry. special place. Several reasons justify this This conference resulted in the adoption Besides, the demographic growth rate of strategic choice. In the first place, Africa of an action plan for the transformation of the continent which was equal to 2.5 % has currently 60% of the reserves of pla- the agriculture in Africa. Four specific ob- in 2016 contributes to an increase of the net’s arable land. This reserve which re- jectives underlie the aforementioned plan: net imports of foodstuffs. These imports present 25% of the world fertile lands are (i) to eradicate the poverty; (ii) to eradicate which were 35 billion USD could increase still mainly under exploited. Secondly, the the hunger and the malnutrition; (iii) to fourfold before 2025 if nothing is made to water which is a key factor for the agri- make of Africa a net exporter of foodstuffs invert the tendency. cultural development is available on it. and (iv) to raise Africa at the top of value Thirdly, the diversity of agroecologiques In the face of these situations and further chains with exporting vocation where it zones of the continent offers an exceptio- to the announcement of the program, from possesses a comparative advantage. President of AfDB in Dakar conference ©BAD ©BAD 2| VOR 4 ©BAD ©BAD Rice-growing, one priority value chains

To reach these goals, the AfDB put on: agriculture would be multiplied by four 2016, more than 200 researchers met to ■ multisectorial interventions such as the passing from 612 millions USD on ave- the International Institute of Tropical intensive use of agricultural inputs, the rage a year to 2.4 billions USD. According Agriculture (IITA) of Ibadan in Nigeria. agricultural mechanization, the improve- to the analysts of the bank, these invest- The objective of this meeting was to ment of the access to the agricole credit- ments should create new markets at 85 identify the priority agricultural value then the improvement of the systems of billion USD a year before 2025. Further chains in which the AfDB will have to landed property; reforms of politics; to the planning of the program Feeding put the focus within the framework of the ■ the promotion of the youth and women Africa, the AfDB has still gathered- program Feeding Africa. After the mee- employment; ting, eighteen ( ■ the adoption 18 ) values chains of an approach were identified of integrated of among which: value chain; (i) self-sufficiency ■ the develop- of production of ment of agro-in- rice; (ii) inten- dustrial zones sification of the which can production of produce of the cassava; (iii) food added value ; safety in Sahel; ■the impro- (iv) exploitation vement of the of the zones of sa- dialogue on the vanna for the ce- policies to raise real production; the obstacles to (v) rehabilitation the trade and ; of the tree-dwel- ■ finance the ling plantations;

projects which ©BAD (vi) development attack the dis- 13 agropoles and some values chains of the horticul- parities between men and women in the March 22nd and 23rd, 2016 to its siege in ture; (vii) increase of the production of farming sector. Abidjan, experts and the representatives wheat; (viii) development of the fish far- The implementation of the program Fee- of more than 30 African countries. This ming. Always with the aim of execution ding Africa will require the mobilization meeting allowed to identify agropoles the action plan for the transformation of of financial resources between 315 in 400 and zones of transformation of farm the agriculture in Africa and federate the billion USD before 2025. So, the invest- produces in Africa in which the bank will energies of the actors around it, > ments of the group of the AfDB in the invest. Afterward, from 12 till 14 April 3| VOR 4 THE NEWS

> the department of agriculture and sily available post-harvests thanks to the seriously affected(allocated) countries. agro-industry of AfDB proceeded on growth of the investments in capital for After the adoption of the plan, regional September 19th, 2016 to the launch of the suppliers. workshops were organized everywhere the strategy for the agricultural transfor- ■ Reproduction of the systems of «war- in Africa in November, 2016 to stimulate mation in Africa 2016-2025. This strategy ehouse receipt»: they will allow the far- the membership and the commitment of resumes four objectives of the action plan mers who store their products in war- all the stakeholders. and defines sixteen ( 16 ) priority initia- ehouses approved to receive receipts of tives to which the mobilized funds will be warehouse which have value of marke- In December, 2016, under the leadership directed. Amongst it, we have: table assets or can serve as guarantee to of the AfDB, under the leadership of the ■ Technologies for the transformation of obtain loans. UNDP and under the leadership of the the agriculture: this initiative which is ■ Insurance Risks: to improve the impact Economic Commission of United Na- managed by the International Institute strength of countries in the shocks agro- tions for Africa (CEA), the African eco- of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) is going climatiques. nomic Conference, reflections were led to to allow to increase the productivity and ■ Financing of infrastructures: it is going Abudja (Nigeria) on the strategies to be the income of the developers through the to catalyse financing for the construction adopted to reach an agro-industrializa- creation of a directory of technologies of of the agricultural infrastructures to sup- tion of the sector. port the schedule of Transformationof the transformation of the agriculture which Finally, the most recent event in connec- Agriculture. are adapted to the African context. tion with the popularization and the de- ■ Financing of trade: it will allow to facili- ■ Agropoles, zones of transformation, velopment of the partnership around tate trade and to improve the global com- agro-industrial and corridors: it aims at «Feeding Africa» is the annual Assembly petitiveness of the African agricultural concentrating resources and at creating on 2017 of the BAD. Organized from 22 exporters by improving the access to the a favorable environment in regions with till 25 May 2017 in Ahmedabad in India, financing of banks and exporters great potential. it allowed to spread the strategy on the ■ Electronic recording of the developers: international scene. One of fallen again ■ Program «Enable Youth»: to increase the this initiative has for objective to help hoped by this conference is the influx of participation of the young people in the countries to create databases of their far- the investors to finance the plan. agriculture through, among others trai- mers and to distribute directly so vou- nings in entrepreneurship, the granting of chers of inputs and other vital services to Thus the meeting is taken for 2025 to the capital of starting up for the agricultu- the developers through the mobile sys- appreciate results of this ambitious pro- ral companies of the young people. This tems of payment. gram. ■ initiative will also be driven by IITA and ■ Capacity building of financing of the the other partners of the AfDB. agricultural SME: the AfDB is going to «Feeding Africa» in digits ■ Sharing of agricultural risks and Mecha- develop the capacities of the sector and ■ 4 specific objectives nisms of Financing: it aims at an increase development of innovant instruments of ■ 6 strategic axes of bank loans in SME through the reduc- financing of SMES. ■ 315-400 billions USD to invest till 2025 tion of the risks of the activities of credits ■ Facilitation for positive discrimination and the attraction of new capital in the in favour of the women in the financing ■ The annual investments of the BAD sector. (AFAWA): to increase the income of the In the agriculture will be multiplied by ■ Development of the networks of inputs women by improving their access to the Four agricoles/Financing inputs: it is going to credit to start agricultural businesss. ■ Creation of new markets allow to increase the productivity of the ■ Resilience to climate change: the fund of Generating annually 85 billions USD developers by increasing the financing to climate change resilience for the agricul- before 2025 the local producers of large-scale inputs. ture is going to increase the productivity ■ Focus on 18 values chains and 13 ■ Mechanism of support for the invest- and the income of the developers by in- agropoles ment and for the capital expenditures for vesting in the financing and the projects ■ 16 priority initiatives to finance the hiring in farms: it aims at increasing which have already showed success in the the income of the developers by offering improvement of the impact strength of the them the possibility of renting agricultu- developers in front of climatic shocks and ral machines for a more efficient produc- in front of the degradation of lands. References and links tion. ■ Fiduciary fund for the nutrition: to im- https://www.afdb.org ■ Losses in the field and after harvests: prove the Food safety and warn the mal- Ken Johm, 2016 : Lancement de la straté- the purpose is to increase the income of nutrition by increasing the support for the gie « Nourrir l’Afrique », BAD, 45p. the farmers by returning the technologies participative programs of nutrition in the concerning the prevention of losses ea- 4| VOR 4 AGRICULTURE

Example of permaculture in Senegal ©Mikhaïl Permaculture: farming respectful of human and nature The permaculture is sustainable and productive integration of the human and the components of the environment

Espoir Gaglo

uman activities especially indus- hood, agroecological movements were Smith reports it 1929 in his entitled book trial caused and continue mo- introduced. The agroecology is a promi- «Tree Crops: To Permanent employee Hreover a change of the climate sing alternative with the possibility of Agriculture», experiments of cultures in- and our environment. This change of the avoiding the social and ecological conse- tended for the human and animal food climate has a very negative incidence on quences. However, the transition towar- with fruits and walnuts. essential natural resources in the agri- ds the agroecological production is very It is only in 1978, that appears for the first cultural production on one hand and the complex and mobilizes diverse forms of time the word «permaculture». He was human being on the other hand. Indeed, social support for the sustainable deve- used by two Australians, Bill Mollison the agricultural production fell and the lopment, in geographically diversified and David Holmgren in their founding damage caused in natural resources com- places. Since a few years, one of these work: «Permaculture One». In this book, promises the natural ecological processes movements agroécologiques expands: the the term «permaculture» indicated an ab- which allow to maintain the landscapes permaculture. breviation of permanent agriculture.Ini- in good condition and productive. In its Etymologically, the term « permaculture tially, the author Bill Mollison and David fourth appraisal report, the intergovern- « comes from the fusion of two English Holmgren defined the permaculture as a mental Group of experts on the evolu- words: «permanent employee» and «agri- word which they had forged to indicate tion of the climate (GIEC) underlines a culture». an evolutionary, integrated system, of strong risk of impacts on the ground and autoperpetuation of botanical and animal leaving ecosystems, on the ecosystematic The term « permanent agriculture « origi- species useful for human. Its fundamental services. Besides the increase of the risks nally is an American expression used by is based on a set of techniques very prac- of extinction, one plan that Increases of the American Cyril Hopkins in its book of tised in the world, but in a more simpli- temperatures will alter the functioning of 1910 « Permanent Soil Fertility and Agri- fied way. the ecosystems, in particular those who culture». It was resumed by Franklin Hi- are important for the food supplies. To ram King in 1911 in his book « Farmers of It is necessary to note a multiplicity as fight against this phenomenon, without Forty centuries: permanent Agriculture in well as one > compromising the resources of liveli- China , Korea and Japan.» Joseph Russell

5| VOR 4 AGRICULTURE

> perpetual adjustment of the definition dern science of ecology, and more speci- ding and popularization of the latter. of the permaculture. This is connected fically on the ecology of systems. Other In Africa, several networks have been to the evolution and the adaptation of disciplines related to physical geography formed over the years. These networks the concept following various authors in and ethnobiology have contributed great- of permaculturists are constituted mainly time. You should not thus limit the per- ly to the adaptation of these principles of by individuals and by NGOs militant for maculture to the agriculture and bree- design. There are twelve (12): (1) Observe agroecology or organic farming. Several ding, but also to the planning and the de- and interact; (2) Collecting and storing en- permaculture training centers or institutes velopment of communities and the use of ergy; (3) Create a production; (4) Apply have been set up across the continent. appropriate technologies. self-regulation and accept feedback; (5) They are a tool to exchange best practices, Utilize and enhance renewable services By integrating all the components, the learn about different initiatives and pro- and resources; (6) Do not produce waste; permaculture becomes a real philosophy mote permaculture projects in Africa. (7) From the general structures to arrive of territorial planning and reinforcement at the details; (8) Integrate rather than se- In a context of climate change and varia- of the spirit of community. This philoso- parate; (9) Use solutions with small scales bility, permaculture by its bases, perhaps phy tries hard by the harmonious integra- and patience; (10) Using and valuing di- one of the solutions for a sustainable and tion of the human housing environments, versity; (11) Utilize interfaces and enhance harmonious development for both man the microclimate, the annual and long-li- edge elements; (12) Using change and res- and nature. Our survival and that of fu- ved plants, the animals, the grounds and ponding creatively. ture generations, as Antoine de Saint-Exu- the water, to create sustainable and pro- péry said, «we do not inherit the land of ductive society. The permaculture aims to In its early days, permaculture was li- our parents, we borrow it from our child- be a simple and effective solution for the mited to Australia and the USA. At pre- ren». world of tomorrow which is confronted sent, the geographical distribution of per- with the evolution of the energy and cli- maculture has spread more widely as a But well before, thorough and well-deve- mate. result of membership, social networks and loped studies have to be put in place. The training offered around the world. Per- objective of these studies will be to allow Finally, the aims of permaculture, is maculture-related publications between the verification of the results confirmed to solving the problems of planets and 2008-2013 are estimated to be 35% in Nor- by the advocates of permaculture. On the mankind. Permaculture objectives coinci- th America, 8% in Oceania, 22% in Eu- other hand, they will make it possible to de perfectly with SDGs (the 17 objectives rope, 18% in Africa, 6% in Latin America, remove the veil on this concept and to al- of sustainable development) . To achieve 11% in Asia. However, the majority of pu- low the sharing of information to the po- this goal, it is based on ethical and design blications are written by lay people for a pulations. principles. popular audience. To learn more about permaculture, follow There are three (3) major axioms of ethics. The reasons which prevent the develop- the documentary film entitled «Awake- ■ Taking care of the land: these activities ment of permaculture are diverse. One ning Permaculture» realized in 2017 by must contribute to the protection of soil, of the most important obstacles is the Adrien Bellay. ■ forests and water. mistrust or even hostility of the scienti- ■ Taking care of the human being: the fic community in the face of holistic remain idea of this axiom is to protect first of search methods. The only scientific study References and links itself, of its relatives and of its community. conducted to date is that of INRA. The Ferguson, R. S., & Lovell, S. T. (2014). Per- ■ Equitable sharing: this principle is based institute has validated permaculture as a maculture for agroecology: design, move- on the limitation of consumption, repro- profitable activity after four years of study ment, practice, and worldview. A review. duction and beyond the redistribution of (2011-2015) in the «Bec Hellouin» organic Agronomy for Sustainable Development, the excess. farm in France. To this, must be added 34(2), 251-274. It should be recalled that in the first publi- the resistance of the political, economic www.ipcc.ch cations, ethical principles were not expli- and social elites who would see their in- Holmgren, D. (2002). « Permaculture : citly stated. These axioms were inspired fluence lessened with the local autonomy Principles and Pathways Beyond Sustai- by the practices of ancient traditions and advocated by permaculture. Despite these nability contemporary co-operative structures. obstacles, enthusiasts of this philosophy www.permaculturefrance.org throughout the world have developed www.ecoledepermaculture.org Unlike ethics, the pillars of permaculture several communication networks and cer- www.abundantbynaturepermaculture. design are based most often on the mo- tified trainings to facilitate the understan- com

6| VOR 4 Interview: conservation agriculture in Africa, what perspectives?

Emile Houngbo is Doctor in Socio-economics and Teacher-researcher at the University of Agriculture of Porto-Novo

by Mikhaïl Padonou

frican countries face the challenge vation agriculture. Although positive rable to the development of soil micro-or- of food security. Such a challenge cases have been observed in black Africa ganisms and to the limitation of Evapora- can not be met without agricul- (Kenya, Cameroon, etc.), non-adopters tion of soil water; All of which allow the A soil to retain its structure and fertility. tural land that does not conserve its fer- of these practices are the most numerous tility sustainably, hence the importance (Benin, Senegal, Burkina Faso, ...). Degra- Production yields do not fall, which keeps of conservation agriculture. Dr. Emile ding agricultural practices, reflected in the the basic production resources in good Houngbo explains what conservation mining of cultivated areas, in clear the ex- condition for future generations. The agri- agriculture is. ploitation of land without just compensa- cultural producer thus makes a good deal How can conservation agriculture be de- tion, are dominant. The cultivation of sys- through good productivity and competi- fined? tematic tillage in each agricultural season tiveness. Conservation agriculture is an agricultu- is developed, as many African countries On the environmental front, conserva- re that allows production without des- adopt agricultural policies that are unfa- tion agriculture is less disruptive to the troying the basic resources on which the vorable to producers who are therefore ecosystem and a means of sequestering agricultural production process is based. not able to adopt agricultural practices of carbon in the soil and conserving water. It protects the physical structure, fertility, conservation. In this respect, conservation agriculture microorganisms, water and soil organic The situation in Benin is that of countries is a sustainable agricultural practice that matter. Agricultural practices such as na- with low adoption rates. Degrading agri- can mitigate the emission of greenhouse tural fallow, plantations and agroforestry culture is developed there, both in the gases that heat the atmosphere and enable (including the integration of cover crops south with strong land pressure and in adaptation to climate change. Conserva- such as Mucuna pruriens) are part of the north where the consumption of large tion agriculture is therefore strongly re- conservation agriculture. It makes it pos- open spaces is at the expense of conser- commended today when Africa and Benin sible to conserve and even to improve the ving the agricultural potential of soils. must adapt to climate change while ensu- ring food security for a galloping popula- production potential of the soil. Conserva- What are the benefits of conservation tion. tion agriculture also consists in practicing agriculture? semi-plowing and non-plowing in order On the economic level, conservation agri- What are the structural factors that impe- to conserve the water, organic and biolo- culture makes it possible to maintain or de the development of conservation agri- gical potential of the soil. even improve a satisfactory level of agriculture in Benin and Africa? What is the state of adoption of conserva- cultural production over time. Because The results of my doctoral thesis defended tion agriculture in Africa in general and the physical structure of the soil, the or- in 2008 revealed that producer poverty is Benin in particular? ganic matter and the fertility of the soil the real obstacle to the adoption of agri- The rate of adoption of agricultural conser- are preserved. Agroforestry, for example, cultural conservation practices. This work vation practices is still low in Africa, espe- through the trees it contains, the depth carried out on the Adja plateau (Depart- cially in subsaharian part. The countries of reached by its roots and the biomass it ment of the Couffo) in Benin revealed that North Africa, notably Morocco, are expe- produces, makes it possible, among other the intensity of implementation of agricul- riencing a significant evolution in conser- things, to maintain a microclimate favo- tural conservation practices (IAC), >

7| VOR 4 AGRICULTURE INNOVATION

Mechanization of artisanal processing units: What relief for women?

> including natural fallow, plantations and agroforestry, is less than 0.50. Ephrème Dayou In 2007, the IAC was 0.282 among poor households, compared with 0.506 for non- poor households, with a significant diffe- he reduction of poverty in Benin oil, yam and cassava chips. requires a deep reform of the deve- rence at the 1% level. When looking at ■ Gari is a product widely consumed by lopment poles to make them more the forms of poverty, taking into account T the population because of its affordable professional and more structured. One of the temporal dimension, ie the period price and its accessibility to all layers or the main challenges in solving the pro- 2000-2007, it emerged that chronic poor social categories. It is therefore a problems of food security and economic de- households are the least adoptive. The IAC duct par excellence to ensure availabi- velopment concerns notably the «agricul- was 0.367 among chronic poor households, lity, thereby enhancing food security in ture» cluster and the «agro-food» cluster. compared with 0.501 among transitional households. Its production is increasingly In 2010, the participation rate was higher poor households. The development of mechanized thanks to the appearance in rural areas (79.1%) than in urban areas all these results is available online: tel.ar- of raspers and presses which reduce the (70.4%). Looking at how the participation chives-ouvertes.fr/tel-00680042 et www. physical effort and the working time that rate varies by sex and place of residence, tropicultura.org/text/v26n3/186.pdf these steps required. 86.3% of women with no education are in What solutions do you advocate for wide the urban labor force, compared with 43% ■ Affitin or néré mustard is used mainly adoption of conservation agriculture in The men (INSAE, 2013). The agri-food by households as a condiment. According our countries? sector, which mobilizes more women than to consumers, their attachment to afitin I have said earlier that the low adoption men, has long been based on traditional is explained by its therapeutic power be- of agricultural practices of conservation methods of exploitation that can no lon- cause it cures high blood pressure. Howe- by producers is due to their inability to ger cope with the rapid development of ver, its production is slowed down by the withstand the additional employment of cities (INSAE, 2011). It is therefore urgent stage of seed husking which has just been factors of production (land, labor or capi- to respond to the increase in urban de- incessantly raised by the development of tal) that this adoption often requires. Thus, mand for consumer goods (Ribier, 1995). a seed husking nere. Thus, given the strong urbanization and they abandon them if they do not have ■ Palm oil: in addition to its many food the problems of food supply, endogenous more land, capital or labor, depending on uses, palm oil is a popular product of technical responses in the form of food the case. The low level of implementation the populations because of its affordable handicrafts have developed to ensure the of the PAC will be all the more noticeable as price which puts it within the reach of all supply of cities and the food supply (Mit- the chronic poverty rate among producers purses and its particular uses. Handicraft chikpè et al. ., 2001). Food crafting groups will be high. It will therefore be necessary production of palm oil is largely provided the units of transformation of local agri- to improve the living standards of agricul- by women, individually or possibly aided cultural products adapted to the habits of tural producers and thus their ability to by a family workforce. These craftsmen food of the city dwellers. Traditional me- save to invest in agricultural conservation use entirely manual techniques. These thods of processing are based on simple practices. The aim is to organize the ma- small units provide coverage for the local techniques that are almost entirely management of the agricultural sector so that market, and in the past have allowed the nual. Yet all manual production processes agricultural producers obtain satisfactory country to export. Its traditional produc- have in common their long, arduous, la- incomes, equal to the actual contribution to tion is boosted by the current availability bor-intensive and inefficient production the various value chains, as is the case in of pulpers of presses and kneaders which processes with relatively low yields. In France and Israel, for example. In so doing, now make women less dependent on the Benin, the processing sector covers a wide producers will be able to adopt massively male labor formerly solicited for this pur- range of products, including gari, néré the agricultural practices of conservation pose. often suggested by the supervisory struc- mustard (commonly known as afitin in tures they receive. ■ the local language), palm or groundnut

8| VOR 4 Multi-Purpose Rasping Machine ©Songhaï

■ Peanut oil is widely consumed by popu- semi-mechanized workshop can reach an there is a great risk that men will recover lations. Its importance is related to the fact annual tonnage much higher than a craft the activity because they have a smaller ca- that it is part of the eating habits and that workshop and ensure substantial bene- pital or access to credit than women. The it is easy to use. Peanut hulling has evol- fits. The integration of some mechanized problem is of course that some women ved from manual to mechanized, thanks operations in the processes can leave the might also increase their production ca- to the motorized hoeing machine. qualities of the artisanal oil intact because pacity, and that this would involve a pro- it is especially the final cooking of the oil cess of concentration of activity. But that ■ Yam and cassava chips are highly va- that confers its flavor. Mechanical mixing, seems inevitable. Mechanization would in lued by populations where yams and cas- for example (rather than by pounding or any case reduce production costs and re- sava remain staple foods, but also increa- crushing) does not change the taste of the lieve transformers from the point of view singly by other populations. Chips are a oil. In view of the difficulty of this task, of daily physical effort. ■ form of conservation of fresh tubers and it seems therefore quite desirable to pro- roots, allowing them to be consumed du- mote its mechanization. One could thus References and links ring periods when their price reaches the imagine the introduction of mechanized Ay P. 2000. Another oil boom. Local wo- maximum. As far as quality is concerned, mechanization in artisanal processes, men’s knowledge and small scale mecha- the chips must be completely white and which varies according to the type of pro- nisation for increased palm oil supplies in free from mold and insect attack. This is duction. This coupling of mechanization Western Nigeria. Projet ALISA, document only possible today thanks to the newly and artisanal production is necessary, de travail, Montpellier, Septembre, 40 p. introduced dryers at the expense of tradi- given the good image that artisanal oil is tional methods of drying by roadside and Fournier S., Muchnik J. et Requier-Desjar- considered better than that produced by dependent on the sun. dins D. 2002. Enjeux et contraintes du dé- large industries. Some consumers (36%) veloppement de la filière huile de palme Ability and production techniques even say they are willing to pay more for au Bénin : une approche par les systèmes artisanal oil. agro-alimentaires localisés. Les Cahiers Over the past decade, development agen- d’Outre-Mer, pp475-494. cies have been supporting the spread of Risks processing equipment, with a focus on INSAE, 2013. Évaluation de la pauvreté au increasing technical performance. Mecha- The craftsmen generally do not know the Bénin. Draft provisoire, 218p. nization will mainly allow to increase the mechanical materials. A mechanized sys- INSAE, 2011. Enquête modulaire intégrée quantities processed per workshop, thanks tem requires a technical mastery, or even sur les conditions de vie des ménages, to the increase in hourly productivity. A a physical force, that women do not neces- EMICoV 2011. sarily have. If the processes are improved, 9| VOR 4 ENVIRONMENT

Contribution of cover crops in the conservation of soil fertility

Under-cover seedlings are an effective measure against erosion and loss of soil fertility

Ephrème Dayou

and degradation is caused by un- in lower income and food insecurity. fertility and control Against the imperata sustainable land-use and manage- (Imperata cylindrica). Mucuna develops on Growing systems based on cover crops ment practices and extreme climate various soils: sandy, clayey, bar land, sa- L are practiced and studied with a view to events resulting from different social, vannah soils and vertisols in the absence the restoration of these lands. Soil is an economic and governance factors. Since of flooding. The cultivation of mucuna ecologically vital commodity that conti- agricultural activities are mainly involved is made to improve soil fertility and / or nually renews its yield capacity. Without in land use, the future of farmers depends soil structure, to bring the nitrogen com- sufficient attention to its needs, it suffers, on it. This is why sustainable land mana- ponent necessary for the production of loses vitality, becomes more sensitive to gement is a major challenge for family far- cereals, especially maize, to reduce the weather and erosion, and provides fewer mers around the world. population of quackgrass to a threshold harvests. For a long time, most anti-ero- easily controlled by the producer, to fight In Benin, land degradation has remained sion and soil restoration techniques have Against soil erosion, against striga «to use a serious constraint on agricultural deve- not been able to improve the fertility its leaves as fodder for livestock, to use its lopment in recent years. Agriculture being of these lands. The new techniques of seeds previously treated in food and feed. the main activity, demographic pressure planting under vegetation cover lead to Mucuna is sown at the beginning of the has led to a fragmentation of cultivated convincing results. Under-cover seedlings rainy season in pure culture or in com- areas and a sharp reduction in fallow pe- are therefore an effective measure against bination with other crops such as maize, riods. This leads to soil degradation due erosion and loss of soil fertility. Indeed, sorghum or Yam or other food crops one to overexploitation due to the combined the vegetation that covers the ground month after sowing these crops at a den- action of bush fires and farming. This dampens the impact of raindrops and the sity of 0.80 mx 0.80 m or 0.80 mx 0.40 m degradation, which affects all the soils of roots close to the surface of the soil im- The culture with which the mucuna is the southern plateaus of Benin, is mainly prove the cohesion of the earth. The suc- associated should have a fairly high for due to the export of nutrients by crops, cession of crops includes a plant installed Escape the choking by the mucuna. It is a significant decrease in the rate of orga- by the farmer to cover the soil during all sown at a rate of one seed per pole (15 kg nic matter modifying the nitrogen cycle, or part of the year. Various legumes have of seed per hectare) or two seeds per pole losses by runoff, erosion and leaching . It been tested as cover crops in different re- (30kg of seed per hectare). The results causes a significant loss of agricultural soil gions of the world. These include: Mucuna showed that the treatment that renews resources and contributes to an increase in pruriens, Stylosanthes guianensis. Mucuna every year in association with the flow of cereal imports. For example, ■ Mucuna pruriens maize raises organic matter (0.6 to 2.8%) population density and poor agricultural Mucuna (Mucuna pruriens) is a multi-pur- while the corn yield increases from 0.2 practices have led to continued impoveri- pose cover crop, whose prurian, use and to 2.8 t/ha/ Year, that erosion decreases shment of agricultural land fertility, wa- cochichennensis varieties were introduced from 7.5 to 2 t / ha / year and runoff from ter deficit, deforestation and soil erosion. in Benin in 1986 as part of the solution 10% to 5% of rainfall in five years. This leads to lower crop yields, resulting approaches to problems of declining soil 10| VOR 4 Mucuna, amultipurpose cover crop amounts of nitrogen (70 to more than 200 than more to (70 nitrogen of amounts thes guianensis is a legume that fixes large Stylosan- season. dry the in level ground the at mowing simple by herbicide, hout wit- controlled be can It the crop. in following weeding for need the reduces ly like weeds perennial many and and Boerhavia diffusa asiatica, Rottboeliaexaltata,Borreriaalata including Striga weeds annual (all weeds control Sowing to able is It the years. subsequent for for necessary biomass the prepare to possible it makes which soil), rich on ha / t 20 to up and matter dry ha / t 10 to (5 soils fertilized and degraded on even biomass high producing of pable soils. pacted com- on well behave to it root allows system powerful its addition, In fer- soils. very tile on well grow to legumes few the of one is It years). 3 (about life shelf short relatively a with species, perennial a is It develop. nodules abundant which on and soil, the of cm 20 first the in to 80% concentrated roots secondary round and pivot main a with roots, of numerous composed is system root Its legume. Stylosanthes guianensis ■ Stylosanthesguianensis ). This great- This Imperata cylindrica). is ca- is Stylosanthes guianensis ss herbaceous a esis nic stockandthus itsoverallfertility.■ orga- and properties soil improve nerally ge- and soils in water of storage the favor process, erosive the limit plants Covering sive plant. inva- an being not and crop a with ciated isasso- it when competition significant making not of advantage the has also It crop. cover excellent an it making weeds, for crops where they do fertility not grow and control mobilize to helps therefore plant This soils. compacted of structure the improve gradually to it allows system on root powerful Its stylosanthes. grown plants of feeding continuous a allowing ralize, mine- rapidly nitrogen in rich roots small and leaves while mineralize, slowly roots large and stems woody Its soil. enrich the rapidly to makes possible it therefore It next culture. the to accessible them Make deficit soil often ments ele- chemical recycle to able is and without inoculation, requiring naturally nitrogen), nodules of year / ha / kg Igname surcouverture deStylosanthes avec lesol.FiBl, Biosuisse.32p relation sa Construire : sols des fertilité la dtke S. et Zimmer S. Klae- 2013. Les principes de A., Grafen G., eidmann N., Patzel santhes guianensis.13p. Stylo- pérennes. Légumineuses : verture cou- de plantes techniques Fiches 2008. C. Rakotoarinivo H., Razafintsalama K., rany C., Moussa N., Michellon R., Naudin Razanampa - H., Charpentier O., Husson htt- p:www.fao.org/soils-2015/fr/ saine. vie une pour sains sols Des : sols des internationale Année 2015. FAO, References andlinks 11| VOR 4

©homeremediess.com

©Husson ECONOMY

Women’s Cooperative for Cassava production and processing ©Yannick Decryption: agricultural cooperatives in Benin

Yannick Odjo

he main actors of agricultural pro- ■ From 1960 to 1972, the organizing initia- ■ The implementation of the structural duction have always been small tives of the rural world were aimed at pro- adjustment program (SAP), with the re- Tproducers and producers whose ducing large quantities of raw materials to sult that the recruitment freeze in the civil primary objective is their subsistence. meet the needs of emerging industries. service has encouraged the development Being the anchors of the agricultural sec- of cooperative structures in other sectors ■ From 1972 to 1990, the cooperative mo- tor, they have been led to adopt various such as health, microcredit, crafts and vement was marked by the socialist op- forms of organization according to the trade. tion made by the country and had to be period, the different political options and produced to satisfy the vital needs of the ■ From 2006 to now, the option of promo- the agricultural development strategy of population. Alongside state farms, the ting agricultural sectors has led to the de- the country. The most common form of administration of the agricultural sector velopment of farms by sector and the or- organization is the cooperative, which is has led to the creation of producer groups ganization of actors in the sectors such as a group of people who carry out the same either on blocks where the means of pro- pineapple, cashew nut, oil palm, Cotton, activity and who are confronted with dif- duction are individual or on collective the creation of the cotton interprofession ficulties to which they alone can not find a fields. The patterns of the Eastern coun- and the pineapple table. solution. In order to find solutions or deal tries greatly influenced the structures of with these difficulties, these people decide Currently in Benin, any cooperative so- the time. to set up their own business that they ma- ciety, any union or federation of coopera- nage at their risk and benefit. ■ The period 1990 to 2006 was characte- tive societies, whose head office is located rized by economic liberalism, the disen- in the national territory, is subject to the An agricultural cooperative is a company gagement of the State from production provisions of the OHADA Uniform Act on organized by farmers who have decided and marketing activities and the transfer the Law of Co-operative Societies (AUS- to pool the means of production for a bet- of competence to farmers’ organizations COOP). However, it should be noted that ter efficiency. (POs), with the consequent diversification prior to the entry into force of AUSCOOP, In Benin, the development of the coopera- of their activities and the creation of ser- cooperatives were governed in Benin by a tive movement was influenced by politi- vices. variety of legal texts. There are two types cal options. So : of cooperatives: 12| VOR 4 ■ Simplified Cooperative Societies tions is always driven by various promo- the specialization of territories. This op- (SCOOPS) with a Management Com- ters; tion, which relegates the administration to mittee (CG) of 3 to 5 members depending the public service mission of control and ■ The actors thus organized on the basis on the number of cooperators; framework support, gives more opportu- of interests such as the support of projects nities for the development of cooperative ■ Cooperatives with a Board of Directors / programs do not take charge and do not societies, which are thus more involved in (COOP-CA) with a turnover of 3 to 12 work for the professionalization of their the management of agricultural sectors. members. structures; To enable OPAs to fully play their role in The registration of cooperatives in Benin ■ The non-existence of the entrepreneurial the management of each sector, it is im- was formerly under the responsibility of spirit thus reducing these organizations portant that these takeover bids are better the Service for the Support of Cooperative governed by cooperative texts into simple structured and functioning well. It is the- Development and the Agricultural Entre- associations easily exploited for electoral refore advisable that a framework for the preneurship (CARDER). As the reform purposes; exchange and consultation of all the fa- currently underway is proceeding with milies of actors be set up by sector, which ■ Insufficient emphasis on the role of the liquidation of CARDERs, this process should bring together the different actors the economy in cooperative structures falls within the competence of the Depart- organized by category and one of whose that are unlikely to evolve in accordance ment of Agriculture, Livestock and Fishe- main roles will be to deal with Issues re- with cooperative principles because their ries (DDAEP). lating to the evolution and development apexes generally invested and managed of each sector. Finally, the management There are certain advantages to combining by non-professionals and non- Agricultu- of information on cooperative societies in into an agricultural cooperative in relation re (agricultural salespersons) can not help Benin (under the authority of the Rural to other types of organization. These in- them; Legislation Directorate, support for pro- clude: achieving economies of scale; The ■ Non-compliance with the texts gover- fessional organizations and agricultural decisions taken have a more lasting and ning organizations; entrepreneurship) is a necessity. It should representative character of the needs and be noted that, to date, information is avai- aspirations of the members; Facilitating ■ Poor governance of managers of coope- lable only on cooperatives in the cotton the dissemination of innovations, etc. rative societies; sector. ■ Despite their undeniable benefits, the ■ Illiteracy among actors. creation and operation of agricultural coo- References and links The current context of the agricultural sec- peratives often encounters difficulties that tor in Benin marked by the reform of the L’Acte Uniforme relatif au droit des Socié- are inherent in stakeholder management. definition of a new agricultural map by the tés Coopératives (AUSCOOP) est le der- Among these difficulties we can list: creation of the Agricultural Development nier Acte uniforme en date ; ■ Lack of creative information; Poles managed by territorial agencies is a Memo DLROPEA sur le mouvement coo- decisive step that will make it possible to pérative, Novembre 2012 ■ The objectives of cooperation are often overcome these difficulties. Indeed, this not appropriate for all; reform places greater emphasis on the ■The creation of stakeholder organiza- promotion of agricultural sectors through

Women’s Cooperative for soy production and processing ©espoirsdenfants.org 13| VOR 4 ECONOMY

The development of agritourism or tourism on the farm

Agritourism is a way of Diversification of incomes for certain agricultural producers

Marthe Montcho

gritourism is by definition a gent- daily life in rural areas, As well as on the pect the following criteria: le form of tourism which aims to cultural elements and authentic features ■ take place on a farm; Apromote rural capital and which, of the rural area, while showing respect by promoting regional development, for the environment and traditions. The ■ be complementary to agriculture; contributes to improving the income of agritourism offers visitors closer contact ■ establish a relationship between the tou- the population. It takes different forms with nature and the rural activities in rist and the producer; of accommodation (farmhouses, cottages which they can participate. on the farm or campsites on the farm) and ■ be a welcome and information activity, Agritourism is a means of income diver- multiple activities in rural areas (pupil including or not, the consumption of pro- sification for some agricultural produ- reception, farmer’s golf, banquet room, ducts coming from this farm; cers. The agritourism can lead to a bet- Hosts, restaurants, butchers, etc.), where ter understanding between urban, rural ■ to develop the agricultural territory and visitors can find answers to the questions non-farmers and rural farmers. To qualify its activities. they are asking and learn about farming, as an agrotourism, the activity must res- local products, traditional cooking and ;

Kumah Farms Complex in Ghana offers several agritourism options ©kumahfarmscomplex 14| VOR 4 ©Reuters

Ivory-Coast, has developed the agritourism around cocoa

Components of the agritourism ■ Accommodation and catering at the farm. It puts agricultural producers in farm contact with tourists or excursionists, thus ■ The producer and his productions; enabling them to discover the agricultural The specificity of agritourism in the face ■ Transformation; environment, agriculture and its produc- of industrial tourisml tion through the welcome and informa- ■ Tourism activities The actors of the agritourism, which is a tion that their host reserves. The contents of the agritourism component of green tourism, are farmers References and links who offer on their farms either a catering ► Products activity, a lodging activity or a leisure ac- Garrod, B., Wornell, R., Youell, R. (2006), ■ Visits to farms, farms; Of culture tivity and, now, a direct sales activity of « Reconceptualizing Rural Resources as ■ Educational and recreational activities; their products. It is all the actors, be they Countryside Capital: The Case of Ru- public, private or associative, who there- ral Tourism”, Journal of Rural Studies, ■ Animation by producers; fore offer activities of accommodation, ca- 22(2006), pp.117–128. tering and leisure in rural areas. ■ Sale of farm producers (noise and va- Roberts L., Hall D. (2001), Rural Tourism lue-added products). Agritourism is a complementary tourist and Recreation : Principles to Practice, ►Services activity of agriculture taking place on a Wallingford : CAB International, 272 p

Kenya has developed agritourism around tea plantations ©magicalkenya.com 15| VOR 4 AGROBUSINESS

Production and marketing of edible mushrooms and its derivatives: Discovery of «Mushrooms house» Mushrooms have anti-tumor and anti-cholesterol effects

Marthe Montcho

ocated in southern Benin, at the Fresh, dried and spicy mushrooms avai- residues (sorghum substrate, corn stalks, municipality called the Allada- lable at «Mushroom house» farms cassava residues, etc.). In addition, the Attogon Toxome, the mushroom packaging used for the packaging of L Due to production standards and condi- house is an agricultural enterprise spe- mushrooms is biodegradable packaging. tions, the mushroom house is positioned cialized in the production and marketing Also mushrooms produced at home as one of the pioneer companies in the pro- of mushrooms and its derivatives. It was mushrooms, have a very good taste, close duction of mushrooms. Mushrooms are established in June 2016 and is already to that of meat. Mushrooms have interes- sold fresh and dried. Moreover the variety known in Benin as a flagship agricul- ting nutrient profiles: high in fiber and low of spicy mushrooms is one of the innova- tural enterprise. According to the pro- in fat, some species may also have high tions and peculiarity of the company «the moters Hermann Lissagbe and Aïchath protein contents. The mushroom is rich house of mushrooms». Indeed after the Ouro-Djeri, the mushroom house has an in protein than most fresh vegetables: its production, the mushrooms are treated average production capacity of 100 Kilo- content varies between 2.1 and 3.3%, ins- very professionally to various spices. grams of fresh mushrooms per month. tead of 1 to 2%. These proteins are better According to their taste, the customer Mushrooms proposed are mainly oyster provided sulfur amino acids - methionine of the mushroom house gets herbs from mushrooms (Pleurotus abalonus). They and cystine - than the proteins of fresh garlic mushrooms; Ginger mushroom; are fast growing, high protein (50% dry plants. However, their biological value re- Mushrooms with mustard; Mushrooms weight), vitamins (A, B, C, D and H), mi- mains lower than that of animal proteins. with anise; Mushrooms with three spices; nerals (phosphorus, potassium, sodium, They are in fact deficient in certain es- Chili peppers, mushrooms etc. The fresh and calcium), oligo (Copper, zinc, alumi- sential amino acids (in particular tryp- mushrooms are sold at 800FCFA the pac- num, iron and selenium), carbohydrates tophan). This is why despite their good kage of 250 Kg. As for dried mushrooms, (50% dry weight), folic acid (necessary for reputation protein, mushrooms can not the selling price is 1300FCFA the pack of the development of the fetal nervous sys- replace meat in the diet. The mushrooms 50g. tem), carotene and pantothenic acid. It is is also an excellent source of numerous useful to the cell membrane and essential The «Mushroom house» farm opts for and very varied trace elements, in parti- to the production of energy. Finally, the organic production and production that cular selenium, a substance that is part of mushrooms not only contain no choles- protects and preserves the environment. the composition of many enzymes with terol but also have medicinal properties antioxidant properties and which plays At the mushroom house, crop residues which have a beneficial action on the hu- a protective role towards cardiovascular and agricultural waste are recycled and man body, being known for its anti-tumor diseases and certain cancers. recovered. Mushroom cultivation is car- and anti-cholesterol effects. ried out on palm residues and harvest Fresh and dried mushrooms offered by Mushroom house ©Marthe 16| VOR 4 ©Marthe Oyster mushrooms, specialty of Mushrooms House

Mushrooms now be using in all your cu- chopped, cleaned and cut into pieces. crème fraîche, onion, oil, parsley, salt, linary recipes Cook for 10 minutes. Add broth, salt and pepper and broth pepper. Boil for 15 minutes. Finely chop Preparation: Fry some slices of onions The mushrooms are a vegetable in their the parsley. Fry the croutons of butter and celery in oil. Add parsley and carrot own right, which can be used to make bread. Arrange them in a plate with a little into rings. Add chicken cut into pieces pleasant menus or to incorporate them parsley and cover with boiling soup.. and return frequently. Prepare the oyster profitably into various diets (hypolipidic, mushrooms in a very hot broth. Pour it all hypoglucidic, hyposodé, etc.) Thanks to Mushroom omelette over the chicken and simmer. When half- their nutritional value and the many me- Ingredients: mushrooms, eggs, oil, parsley, cooked, add the fresh cream, Check the dicinal virtues, mushrooms lend themsel- salt, pepper seasoning. Place in oven for 10 minutes ves to many culinary preparations. They Preparation: Place the oyster mushrooms and serve warm.■ are served, for example, as appetizers, as in a pan in a little oil. Beat the eggs with a vegetable dish, as an accompaniment or a little salt and pepper. Pour in the beaten References and links as a salad. They also marry meat, fish and eggs and mix to combine the ingredients. Culture des champignons pleurotes à pe- eggs. Shake the pan so that the omelet does not stick to the bottom. Turn the omelette tite échelle, Faculté des Sciences Agrono- Mushroom soup over. Sprinkle with a little parsley and miques, Université de Burundi, 14p. Ingredients: oyster mushrooms, onions, ½ serve immediately. Les avantages de la culture des champi- l of meat broth, oil, parsley, bread crusts, gnons en agriculture, Par Vincent Leblanc, butter, salt, pepper. Sliced chicken with mushrooms agronome, M.Sc. 45p. Preparation: Brown the mushrooms finely Ingredients: chicken, oyster mushrooms,

Dishes and spices made with mushrooms ©Marthe 17| VOR 4 AGRO-REPORT ©Marthe Yam festival in Benin, when culture and food are celebrated together

Marthe Montcho

n August 15 of each year, it is the fes- of course, food, but it is above all a commu- tival of the yam in Benin. This festi- nion. Thus, yam is one of the cultures that is Oval brings together thousands of Be- as important as food, cultural and economic ninese and tourists to Savalou (Region of hill, for the populations of West Africa including center of Benin). The commune of Savalou is Benin. known as the geocultural place par excellence Yam (Dioscorea spp) is one of the crops of where the yam is celebrated. This festival is food, cultural and economic importance to the belonging of socio-cultural groups such the populations of West Africa including Be- as Mahi, Nagot, Bariba, Dendi and other eth- nin. It is also a crop Tropical forest of great nic groups. The yam is anchored in the dieta- socio-economic importance, especially in ry habits of these populations and constitutes the countries of the Gulf of Guinea (Nige- a marker of their identity. Yams retain this ria, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Togo, Benin, etc.). advantage in the face of competition from Its consumption remains high or increasing other culturally less starchy products. Un- in several traditionally producing countries, like cassava, maize or rice, yam is a native despite high imports of rice and wheat. Root product of these regions and is thus deeply and tuber crops are particularly important rooted in the culture of their population. In food crops in the sustainable struggle against several ethnic groups, its consumption is poverty and the improvement of the living strongly ritualized, governed, with each new conditions of rural households. According to harvest, by ceremonies maintaining the cohe- many scientist and specialist of food security, sion of the social groups and activating their the populations of Africa, feeding on tubers identity: the festivals of the yam. The yam and especially yams, did not experience fa- has enjoyed and continues to enjoy with cer- mine. tain socio-cultural groups, to a certain extent, particular treatments which make that some In Benin, yam production has experienced Yam has a consider it a sacred culture. In the customary an annual increase of about 12% in recent de- cultural, economic and food importance in Benin symbolism, it is through the yam that the life cades. In Benin, yam is mainly grown in the of the ancestors reappears. Eating yams is, crystalline formations of the Center and the

18| VOR 4 North from the latitude of Djidja to Kan- Benin. Unlike the pestle mortar, the pile Adékambi, S. A., 2006 : Déterminants so- di. It is the subject of a major commercial is used to obtain crushed yam in five mi- cio-économiques et taux d’adoption et transaction from these production areas nutes. This saves time, reduces physical d’intensité d’adoption des nouvelles va- to large urban shopping centers including effort and guarantees the quality of cru- riétésde riz NERICAs au Centre-Bénin. Cotonou, Porto-novo and Bohicon. shed yam. Communication à l’atelier régional de l’ADRAO.Dar es salam, Tanzanie, 31 juil- Pounded yam has a very good position Also yam is recognized for some medici- let au 04 août 2006. among the products consumed by the po- nal properties or recommended for some pulations, whatever their level of prospe- diets. Varieties are not only distinguished Baco, M. N., Tostain S., Mongbo, R. L., rity. It has become part of the food habits from the agronomic point of view or Bo- Biaou G., et Lescure J-P. 2007 : Igname, of urban households and its consumption tanical but also from the culinary point plante alimentaire commerciale et cultu- now exceeds traditional geographical of view. Certain varieties or cultivars are relle au nord Bénin. Annales des sciences areas as well as rural areas. The yam is thus recognized for their ability to be cru- Agronomiques (9) 2 : 49-67. ISSN : 1659- consumed in various forms, the most po- shed, others for their ability to be dried, 5009. pular of which is ‘crushed yam’ known as etc. Furthermore, the quality characteris- N. Bricas, H. Attaie. La consommation ‘agou’ in the south and central Benin and tics of the same type of yam-based prepa- alimentaire des ignames. Synthèse des ‘tchokourou’ in northern Benin. ration differ from one consumer to ano- connaissances et enjeux par la recherche. ther. L’igname, plante séculaire et culture In addition, yam pounding in both d’avenir, Cirad, Inra, Orstom, Coraf, Coll households and restaurants is a tedious As for the conservation and processing Colloques, pp.21-30, 1998. job (high physical energy expenditure) of yams, the low shelf life translates into that can last about 30 minutes and gives large seasonal variations in availability Paita G., 1998. L’igname en Nouvelle-Ca- a paste whose quality is often tainted by and consequently in prices. A market lédonie. In : L’igname, plante séculaire et sweat and wood debris from the mortar. chain of pre-cooked and dried yam chips, culture d’avenir. Actes du séminaire in- Also the use of mortar, although steeped made mainly from kokoro varieties (from ternational CIRAD-INRA-ORSTOM-CO- in tradition, has impacts on the environ- the Dioscorea cayenensis-rotundata group) RAF, 3 - 6 juin 1997, Montpellier, France. ment such as noise pollution and tree fel- with small tubers. This development was 45-46. ling for the making of mortars and pestles. accompanied by the dissemination of a Nkamleu N., Annang D., Baco M. N. The species most threatened in Benin are culinary preparation based on dried-yam 2009. Securing levelihood through yams. shea-tree (Vitellaria paradoxa) and the nere flour, which has led to the elimination of Nkamleu N., Annang D., Baco M. N (Eds). (Parkia biglobosa). most of the constraints encountered in Proceeding of a technical workshop on the sectors dominated by fresh tubers. In progress in yam research for developpe- Since 2004, an alternative yam pounding this form, the yam can be kept for several ment in west and central Africa held in technology, the electromechanical ma- months or even a year if storage condi- Accra, Ghana, 11-13 september 2007. chine developed by the Center for Re- tions prevent insect attack.■ search in Agri-Food Technology (CRTA), Sodjinou, E., C. Agli, P.Y. Adegbola, 2009 : has been put on the market mainly to pro- References and links Consommation et préférence des produits d’igname par les ménages urbains de Co- mote its consumption in urban areas in Adégbola, Y. P. ; Arouna, A., Diagne, A., tonou et de Porto-Novo, au Bénin. The yam pounded, very popular in Benin

19| VOR 4 AGRO-REPORT

Focus on the cooperative «Miyiwannoumidé» of Ouinhi

Joël Gbaguidi

he cooperative Miyiwannoumidé, Maize is the main production of the 2000 -3000 kg / ha and on average of 2500 meaning «Love one another», is a group. Members have an area of 74 ha. In kg / ha. The adoption of these varieties in- Tcooperative association of produ- addition, the women in the group are en- creased the total production of the group cers in the village of Yaago in Ouinhi com- gaged in the processing activity of cassava so that the supply available annually mune, localized in Zou department since into gari. This activity generates additio- at the group level was estimated at 309 2008, the year of creation. It has more than nal income for the latter. tonnes in 2014. The increase in supply en- 95 active members, including 42 women. abled the group to sell corn to one of com- In order to strengthen the capacities of the It is governed by a board of directors of panies preparing to eat prisoners for the Miyiwannoumidé cooperative (GMO), seven (7) elected members. first time. It must be said that previously the USADF and the government of Benin he only sold his products on local markets The cooperative is registered under the through project ADF 3084-BEN have been in Dasso, Ouinhi or Yaago. number 0/6/1/0/0/1/1/1/4/9 of 27 providing financial support since 2014. October 2009 at the level of the CARDER The funding of these partners is directed With regard to cassava, the project en- Zou / Collines (now the Departmental specifically towards: abled the women in the group to improve Directorate for Agriculture and Fisheries) their cassava processing capacities. Thus, ■ the intensification of maize production and therefore has a legal existence towar- during the funding period, they obtained and the transformation of cassava into ds the administrative authorities. It was 359.2 tons of gari.Thanks to the impro- gari through a technological package created to unite the efforts of its members vement of their performance, the group adapted to climate change; to improve their resilience to: offered several services to its members in ■ support for the storage of products. 2014. They are: ■ problems of declining fertility in agricultural soils; As a result of this support, the members ■ Bulk purchase of maize seed; of the consortium moved into the produc- ■ climatic disruptions; ■ Fertilizer supply; tion of short-cycle maize. The cultivated ■ difficulties for storing their production. varieties are: TZEEW and 2000 SYNEEW ■ Installation of a processing unit. of cycle of 75 to 80 days with a yield of

Miyiwannoumidé cooperative in pictures

Despite these good results, the GMO faces ■ Definition and operationalization of a challenges such as: group input control mechanism (seeds, fer- ■ The absence of a management policy for tilizers), residues, particularly for cassava, ■ The process of certification of the quality ■ The absence of formal contracts with sup- of the gari by the DANA, pliers, ■ Development of a marketing policy for ■ The limited ability to negotiate fertilizers maize and gari, in advance, ■ The organization of training on hygiene ■ Lack of awareness of market demand for rules related to the process of transforma- products, tion of cassava into gari and its derivatives, ■ The difficulty of mobilizing members’ ■ Strengthening / harmonizing producers’ products, capacity in the maize production process (control of the technical itinerary), ■ Lack of a marketing policy. ■ The definition of an access strategy for To solve these difficulties, the grouping en- their activities and visages the development of partnerships with the structures or people who can ac- ■ Improving governance. ■ company them in:

21| VOR 4 OPPORTUNITIES PUBLICATIONS

Czech schorlaships 2017 The objective of this study is to identify practices that enable small producers to access financial Fields: Agriculture, Economy, Forestry, services and determine which practices have naturals resources management, ve- yielded results. It also helps to draw lessons from terinary science. good practices (and Target: Developing countries. Deadlines: september 30th 2017 Also cases that did not work) to improve access to Link: http://www.msmt.cz/eu-and-in- funding proposed by the NPM, APF, and members ternational-affairs/government-scho- of both networks. larships-developing-countries?lang=2 76 pages Available as a free download on: University of Laval schorlaships http://tinyurl.com/hhovpjm Fields: Masters Target: Africans countries national Deadlines: september 15th 2017 The WWF 2016 Live Planet report draws a sad re- Link: https://www.bbaf.ulaval.ca/en/ cord of the state of the planet by illustrating,The scholarships-bursaries/internatio- growing threats to the globe that alter climate, nal-students/masters-scholarships/ biodiversity, ocean health,Forests, the water cycle, the nitrogen cycle and the carbon cycle. University of 75 pages Guandong (China) schorlaships Available as a free download on: http://tinyurl.com/jsaol6f Fields: Masters Target: outstanding foreign students . Deadlines: october 2017 Link:http://iie-en.gdufs.edu.cn/Scho- larship/Guangdong_Province_Go- vernment_International_Stud.htm This publication seeks to answer the following questions: Mooc of introduction to the 1. Why defend the right of peasants to seed? permaculture What threats are weighing today on this right? 2. Why and how to give the right of peasant far- Fields: This learning path addresses mers to the legal value of a human right? the history, ethics, principles and 20 pages strategies of Permaculture. Available as a free download on: Target: All interested in the theme. https://www.coordinationsud.org/wp-content/ Deadlines: september 11th 2017 uploads/droit-des-semences-web-vf.pdf Link:https://open4sustainability.pt/ fr/permaculture/

Mooc on Natural resources and territorial development in Africa This practical guide deals with the transformation of so-called «giant» bamboos, measuring several Fields: The objective of this course is tens of meters in height, suitable for construction to understand natural resource issues and semi-industrial uses, using the example of and to strengthen the capacity for the Luông processing chain (Dendrocalamus Bar- analysis and action (management, ne- batus) in North Vietnam. gotiation, advocacy) in this area. 237 pages Target: This course is intended for Available as a free download on: people wishing to improve their http://www.gret.org/publication/transforma- knowledge of Africa’s natural resources tion-du-bambou/ Deadlines: october 5th 2017 Link:https://open4sustainability.pt/ fr/permaculture/

22| VOR 4 AUTHOR’S CORNER

Marthe Montcho Mikhaïl Padonou Editor in Chief Design and Layout Agronomist specialist in Agronomist specialized in Production and animal health natural resource management [email protected] [email protected]

Abomey-Calavi, Benin Dakar, Senegal

Koudjo Espoir Gaglo Ephrème Dossavi Dayou Contributor Contributor Engineer Agronomist specializing Agronomist specializing in in plant production Agricultural mechanization [email protected] [email protected]

Dakar, Senegal Cotonou, Bénin

Yannick Espérant B. Odjo Joël Ahowanou V. Gbaguidi Contributor Contributeur Agro-economist specializing in Agro-economist specializing in agricultural cooperatives farmers organizations [email protected] [email protected]

Cotonou, Benin Cotonou, Benin

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