Imagine a bustling cashew plantation, its once-lush trees now overgrown and struggling to produce. This is the reality for many farmers in Benin, where cashew nuts are the second-largest export. But what if there was a way to breathe new life into these aging orchards, boosting yields and transforming livelihoods? That's exactly what's happening in places like Soclogbo, where the rhythmic buzz of chainsaws signals a revolution in cashew farming.
Donné Houangni, a cashew farmer in Soclogbo, watches with satisfaction as professional sawyer Pierre Hounhoulo expertly fells large, unproductive trees. This isn't destruction; it's rehabilitation. Using a hefty iron sledgehammer, Pierre clears away trunks and branches, making way for healthier growth. "This operation is all about improving the plantation's yield," Donné explains. And he's not alone. Hundreds of sawyers, working alongside private service providers (PSPs), are part of a larger movement to revitalize Benin's cashew industry.
This ambitious effort is fueled by the Agricultural Competitiveness and Export Diversification Project (PACOFIDE), funded by the World Bank. PACOFIDE aims to strengthen Benin's agricultural sector by enhancing competitiveness and access to export markets for key crops like cashews, pineapples, and horticultural products. But here's where it gets controversial: while the project focuses on export crops, it also addresses food security by developing irrigated areas for rice and market gardening. Can a single initiative successfully tackle both export growth and domestic food needs?
Rehabilitating old cashew plantations involves four critical steps: thinning, pruning, skidding, and weeding. Romuald Bamidélé Afora, a municipal leader for PSPs in Dassa-Zoumé, breaks it down: "Pruning removes branches that touch the ground, preventing insect infestations, and trims excess growth to allow sunlight and air circulation. Thinning ensures trees are spaced 10 meters apart, optimizing productivity. Skidding clears away cut branches, and weeding eliminates unwanted plants."
For farmers like Cocou Gabriel Agbélélé, who has cultivated 12 hectares of cashews since 1997, the results are transformative. After receiving support in 2022, his yields soared from two to three tons to five to six tons. "With the increased income, I can better manage my family's expenses and pursue my plans," he shares. Olivier Kodjo Azonnou, another farmer, echoes this sentiment: "Without this support, I would have abandoned my orchard. My yields were a mere 100 kg per hectare, but now they've jumped to 1.4 tons."
And this is the part most people miss: the ripple effect of these interventions. In central municipalities focused on cashew production, output has surged from 137,926 tons in 2020 to 225,000 tons in 2024. Beyond rehabilitating old plantations, PACOFIDE also supports the creation of new farms, providing high-performance seedlings to kickstart production. Franck Avikpo, a nurseryman in Savè, supplies grafted and polyclonal plants, ensuring farmers have the best possible start. He also assists with installing drip irrigation systems, crucial for plant survival during droughts.
Sanni Mamadou, secretary general of the Cashew Interprofessional Sector, reflects on the project's impact: "Before PACOFIDE, awareness campaigns about good agricultural practices had limited success. This project has taken action, changing the lives of thousands of rural families. In the long term, new cashew plantations with certified grafted seedlings will bring visible change."
The numbers speak for themselves: 122,547 hectares of existing cashew plantations have been rehabilitated, and 17,818 hectares of new, high-performing plantations have been established. Over 350,000 individuals have benefited from the project, which has also funded 248 subprojects within the pineapple and cashew value chains. Additionally, a cold storage terminal for perishable agricultural products has been built at Cotonou airport.
But here's the real question: As agricultural input costs skyrocket globally, can initiatives like PACOFIDE sustain their impact? The project has already facilitated access to $100 million worth of fertilizers for the 2023–2026 seasons, but what happens when external support ends? Can Benin's cashew industry maintain its momentum, or will it face new challenges?
What do you think? Is PACOFIDE a sustainable solution for Benin's agricultural sector, or are there inherent limitations to such large-scale interventions? Share your thoughts in the comments—let's spark a conversation about the future of farming in Benin and beyond.
