In Benin, the prices of staple foods and basic necessities, including corn and vegetables, have been on the rise for several months.
In response to this situation, the government is implementing measures to address the issue.
Special Intensification Program
On July 3rd, the Benin government approved a special program for the intensification of vegetable and cereal production during a Council of Ministers meeting.
With an initial budget of 10 billion CFA francs ($16.4 million), this program aims to strengthen the capacities of stakeholders involved in these two sectors to enhance local production levels.
Impact of Climate Change and Heatwave
This announcement comes at a time when vegetable prices have risen sharply in recent months due to insufficient supply in the local market.
“Due to the effects of climate change and the intense heat observed between January and May, the agricultural season was marked by low production of vegetable crops, particularly tomatoes, onions, and peppers,” the Council of Ministers statement explained.
Soaring Prices of Vegetables
According to data from the National Institute of Statistics and Demography (INStaD), the average price per kilogram of pepper jumped by 75.5% to 1320 CFA francs ($2.1) between February and March 2024. The price of tomatoes also increased by 74.5% to 749 CFA francs ($1.2) during the same period.
Additionally, there has been a surge in cereal prices, especially corn, since the beginning of 2024, attributed to uncontrolled exports to neighboring countries in the sub-region.
Program Interventions
Concretely, the interventions planned under the special intensification program for vegetable and cereal production include promoting controlled-environment cultivation, small-scale irrigation, and storage infrastructure to minimize post-harvest losses.
The program also aims to facilitate farmers’ access to specific inputs and high-yield seeds, promote integrated water resource management, crop rotation, and soil fertility management.