Commodity chain : COTTON-BENIN

Background history of the project

As of 1996, the NGO OBEPAB starts implementing a project on the production and the distribution of organic cotton. Since 1998, the project finds the support of the Dutch-Beninese Sustainable Development Treaty which becomes effective thanks to the Dutch company KIT / NIPS, Netherlands International Partnership for Sustainability. As of 1999, technical support is supplied by Agro Eco, a Dutch consulting firm specializing in organic agriculture.

Local Partners

OBAPAB: Organisation Béninoise pour la Promotion de l'Agriculture Biologique (Beninese organisation for the promotion of organic agriculture).

Agro Eco Consultancy

Context/Stakes

Production of organic cotton in Benin has increased in a significant way over the past five years. The project gathers between 600 and 700 growers, one third of them women. All growers are small owners, growing 5 to 20 acres of land. One third of their land produces cotton.

Program Description

In 2004/2005, 650 farmers grew 200 tons of cotton seeds on close to 1,235 acres of land. The average output is 1,000 to 1,250 kg/acre. Outputs of 1,500 to 2,2250 kg/acre are standard in conventional cotton fields, two factors compensate for the lower outputs of organic agriculture, however.

On the one hand, growers do not have to reimburse any loan (which usually correspond to 30% of revenues in the case of conventional cotton). On the other hand, the selling price is 20% higher than that of conventional cotton. Selling price is agreed upon in advance with the producer. The purchase of the whole harvest is guaranteed by the project.

OBEPAB manages workshops for organic growers covering such topics as the management of pesticides and the fertility of soils. In contrast with the workshops held in Asia, which are long and costly, the OBEPAB approach consists in a limited number of workshops in small groups of farmers, on site in the fields or villages. Farmers are trained to recognise predators and pests and to understand adequate fertilization methods.

In return, farmers share their experience on indigenous pesticides and fertilisation methods with the project representatives. Organic growers of Benin have indeed adapted their own fertilisation methods: usage of palm oil residues (the " tchotchokpo"), of domestic waste and of manure. They are presently experimenting on the usage of botanic extracts, which are available on site, to safeguard organic agriculture.

Company being engaged in this commodity chain

EURO-NAT, BIOCOTON, DERMOSHOP, HYDRA