Agriculture in Benin
-
BENIN, 2015/07/23
Fears are growing that without timely intervention to stem outbreaks of the highly virulent avian flu virus H5N1 across West Africa, further spread across the region and beyond is inevitable, FAO said today.
To this end, the agency is calling for $20 million for prevention and response activities.
The call follows outbreaks of the virus in poultry farms, markets and family holdings in Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Niger, Cote d’Ivoire and Ghana.
The outbreak comes as nations across West Africa are still recovering from, and in some cases still battling, Ebola. Avian flu could trigger a mass die-off of chicken – a nutritious and inexpensive source of food for a lot of people– with detrimental impacts on diets and on the economy of the region, exacerbating an by presently difficult situation.
-
BENIN, 2014/03/20
Six varieties of rice with improved tolerance to environmental stress, have been discovered by researchers at the rice Centre for Africa (AfricaRice), according to a statement issued by the organization, based in Abomey-Calavi in Benin.
The organization said the six rice varieties, under the name 'advanced rice varieties for Africa (ARICA), is the second in the series of discoveries since the launching of the trademark ARICA last year to offer agricultural producers a new generation of high-performance varieties for Africa.
-
BENIN, 2014/02/21
Benin produced additional than 300,000 tonnes of cotton during the 2013-2014 season, compared with 240,000 tonnes in the previous season, representing an increase of 60,000 tonnes.
Officials said the increased production is a step towards the government's target of 500,000 tonnes per season.
The increased production was particularly impressive in four departments in the north of the country - Atacora, Alibori, Borgou and Donga.
-
BOTSWANA, 2013/04/02
Africa frequently experiences food shortages, although its 900 million farmers could feed the continent, inclunding supplying other parts of the world. But for this to happen they need the support of politicians.
-
BENIN, 2013/01/07
A large scale back-to-the-village scheme has commenced in Benin with the intention of training at least 65% of the country’s youths in agricultural innovation. The first 100 young people have now received their certifications and are set to go into commercial farming.
For three months, the young people were trained at the National Institute of Agriculture, on farming and smallholders techniques, tractors driving, entrepreneurship, and trading and value chain. No diploma was required. The criteria for selection include being young and motivated.
-
BENIN, 2012/12/31
FOOD SECURITY SNAPSHOT
Final estimates indicate above-average cereal production in 2011, despite erratic precipitation in parts of the country
However, high food prices continue to affect consumers
