The Beninese agricultural sector has demonstrated positive growth, contributing 25.4% to the nation's GDP and generating 59.1% of export revenues in 2025. According to Hermann Imali Djeta, president of the National Chamber of Agriculture of Benin (Cna-Bénin), these performances highlight the sector's significant role in the economy and its importance for local populations. The sector has also made progress in production, transformation, food security, and governance.
The review of the 2025 agricultural sector performance, held in Cotonou, brought together various stakeholders, including representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, and Fisheries (Maep), professional agricultural organizations, technical and financial partners, and private sector actors. The meeting revealed that Benin has been ranked first in the Economic Community of West African States (Cedeao) and fifth in Africa in terms of fulfilling Malabo commitments from 2015 to 2025.
The Cna-Bénin attributes these achievements to the combined efforts of the state, producers, professional organizations, technical and financial partners, the private sector, research institutions, and technical services. Olivier Krins, director of Enabel in Benin and head of the agricultural sector's technical and financial partners, noted that 10.93% of state expenditures were dedicated to the sector, surpassing Malabo commitments. He also reported that 69 communes have satisfactory food coverage and a 42.8% decrease in conflicts between farmers and herders.
Despite these accomplishments, challenges persist, including limited access to inputs, financing, agricultural advice, and innovation for some producers. The valorization of certain infrastructures remains insufficient, and difficulties in transporting produce to transformation units and improving research result dissemination among farmers are pressing concerns. The Cna-Bénin emphasizes the need for more effective mechanisms to bring financing closer to producers and agricultural enterprises.
The review highlighted the necessity of strengthening the organization of agricultural value chains. The Cna-Bénin has initiated actions in palm oil, rice, and market gardening, as well as structuring actors in maize and cassava, and supporting cashew and soybean sectors. However, further work is required to make interprofessional organizations more operational, enabling them to serve as genuine dialogue and solution-finding platforms among producers, transformers, traders, and other stakeholders.
Improving access to agricultural information is also crucial, as it directly influences farmers' activity planning and economic decisions. The increasing pressure of climate change requires adapting practices, using climate-resilient seeds and technologies, and promoting agroecological practices. Stakeholders stress the need to boost production while enhancing the ability of farms to operate in an increasingly uncertain environment.
Key challenges identified include delays in providing inputs, financing difficulties, inadequate storage infrastructure, limited market access, poor rural road conditions, conflicts between farmers and herders, insufficient advisory support, and limited dissemination of certain innovations. The technical and financial partners have identified three priorities: improving productivity through research, innovation, and agricultural advice; strengthening value creation through financing and local transformation; and increasing the sector's resilience to climate change.
Key points
- The Beninese agricultural sector contributed 25.4% to the nation's GDP and generated 59.1% of export revenues in 2025.
- Benin has been ranked first in the Economic Community of West African States (Cedeao) and fifth in Africa in terms of fulfilling Malabo commitments from 2015 to 2025.
- The sector faces persistent challenges, including limited access to inputs, financing, and innovation, as well as the need for improved infrastructure and climate resilience.
