In northern Benin, a project promoting certified organic cotton has transformed the lives of many women farmers, including Salimatou Biobou. She has worked tirelessly to restore a 1.5-hectare plot of land that her husband once thought was unproductive. By using organic methods such as crop rotation and animal manure, Biobou has successfully grown certified organic cotton. This has not only improved the soil fertility but also given her control over the proceeds of her harvest.
The project, led by the Aid by Trade Foundation, has reached more than 9,000 smallholder farmers since 2021, with 45% of them being women. Professor Simplice Vodouhê, president of the Beninese Organisation for the Promotion of Organic Agriculture (OBEPAB), explains that certified organic cotton is produced without chemical fertilisers, synthetic pesticides, or genetically modified organisms. Instead, it relies on managing soil fertility with organic matter and locally produced biopesticides.
Biobou receives technical support from the Association of Valiant and Active Women (AFVA-ONG), which supplies her with the necessary inputs for a subsidised contribution of 25,000 CFA francs (about US$43). The association also provides management and leadership training, helping growers build confidence. With the money earned from selling her certified organic cotton, Biobou has been able to pay school fees for two of her daughters and start a small business to support her family during the off-season.
In comparison to conventional cotton, organic cotton sells for a higher price per kilogram. While conventional cotton sells for 300 CFA francs (about US$0.52) per kilogram, organic cotton sells for 360 CFA francs (about US$0.63) per kilogram. This additional 60 CFA francs (about US$0.10) is an incentive premium for organic cotton farmers. Biobou's harvest brings in 432,000 CFA francs (about US$750) before accounting for the 25,000 CFA francs (about US$43) she paid in advance for inputs.
However, access to land remains a significant obstacle for women growers under either model. Benin's Land and Property Code grants everyone the right to land, but customary practice often treats it as property managed by the head of the family. Gabriella Hounkpatin, who leads a project advocating secure access to land for women, describes this as a Beninese paradox: agricultural wealth is often generated by women, but ownership remains a men's affair.
Despite these challenges, Biobou's experience shows what organic cotton can offer women when technical support and direct access to payment come together. For more growers to have that chance, organisations such as OBEPAB say women also need secure access to fertile land, reliable payment arrangements, and wider technical support. With the right support and resources, more women like Biobou can achieve financial independence and improve their livelihoods through organic cotton farming.
As the project continues to grow, it is expected that more women will benefit from the opportunities provided by organic cotton farming. With over 4,000 women farmers already empowered, the project has the potential to make a significant impact on the lives of many women in Benin. By providing financial independence and better soil management, the project is helping to create a more sustainable and equitable future for women farmers in the region.
Key points
- A project promoting certified organic cotton in Benin has empowered over 4,000 women farmers, offering financial independence and better soil management.
- The project has reached more than 9,000 smallholder farmers since 2021, with 45% of them being women.
- Access to land remains a significant obstacle for women growers, with customary practice often treating land as property managed by the head of the family.
