Benin: Restoring old plantations to strengthen the cashew value chain

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• In Benin, massive campaigns to rehabilitate old plantations have improved the productivity of cashew, the country's second largest export crop after cotton.
• World Bank support helped rehabilitate 122,547 hectares of old cashew plantations and establish 17,818 hectares of new cashew plantations, reaching nearly 40,000 beneficiaries.
• These investments helped increase the production of raw cashew nuts from 137,926 tons in 2020 to 225,000 tons in 2024.

The sound of a chainsaw distinctly interrupts the tranquility of Donné Houangni’s cashew plantation in Soclogbo, within the commune of Dassa-Zoumé, 275 km from Cotonou. Professional sawyer Pierre Hounhoulo methodically cuts down large cashew trees using his expertise. With a 29 kg iron sledgehammer, he skillfully removes trunks and branches, much to the satisfaction of the plantation owner. According to the farmer, “This is a cashew tree rehabilitation operation intended to enhance the plantation’s yield.”

Like Pierre, hundreds of sawyers are helping to rehabilitate cashew plantations and boost the productivity of Benin's second-largest export, cashew nuts. Working with private service providers (PSPs), or brigadiers, he joins others in this campaign.

This activity is being carried out as part of the Agricultural Competitiveness and Export Diversification Project (PACOFIDE). Financed by the World Bank, the project aims to strengthen competitiveness and access to export markets for selected value chains, such as cashew, pineapple, and other horticultural products. It also aims to improve food and nutritional security through the development of irrigated perimeters for rice production and market gardening.

The rehabilitation of old cashew plantations involves four main tasks: thinning, pruning, skidding and weeding. “Pruning consists of cutting branches that touch the ground - to avoid the risk of infection by insects - and superfluous branches making the cashew tree too bushy to allow good aeration and exposure to the sun. Thinning also ensures better aeration with 10 meters of spacing, avoiding excessive density and optimizing tree productivity. Skidding consists of transporting the cut branches out of the site, while weeding aims to remove weeds," explains Romuald Bamidélé Afora, municipal president of the Dassa-Zoumé Private Service Providers.

Since 1997, Cocou Gabriel Agbélélé has cultivated 12 hectares of cashew trees. In 2022, he received assistance through an operation that boosted his yields significantly. “Previously, I harvested two to three tons, but now I gather between five and six tons,” he reports. The scheme provided the essential work and equipment. “With my increased income, I can manage family expenses more effectively and pursue my plans,” he adds.

Olivier Kodjo Azonnoudo, another farmer, says: “Without this support, I would have already abandoned my orchard. I barely harvested 100 kg per hectare. The vegetation was dense with few flowers, resulting in non-existent nut production. Thanks to the interventions of the brigadiers and the practices acquired during these councils, we have increased to 1.4 tons per hectare.”

The upturn

In several central municipalities focused on cashew production, the rehabilitation of cashew plantations has led to an increase in production from 137,926 tons in 2020 to 225,000 tons in 2024.

In addition to the rehabilitation of old plantations, the project also supports the creation of new farms. It provides producers with high-performance seedlings to stimulate production.

Franck Avikpo, a nurseryman in Savè, supplies producers with grafted and polyclonal plants from his nursery. "The seeds and seedlings subsidized by the project are sent from here," he says.

The nurserymen not only ensure the distribution of the plants but also accompany the producers during the installation of the drip system to optimize the survival of the plants during drought periods. They ensure that the protocols for the installation and maintenance of the young plants are rigorously respected.

“Before PACOFIDE, several projects aimed to raise awareness of good agricultural practices among producers, but their impact was limited. With this project, we have acted, changing the lives of thousands of rural families,” says Sanni Mamadou, secretary general of the Cashew Interprofessional Sector. “In the long term, new cashew plantations with certified grafted seedlings will bring visible change.”

The project has yielded notable outcomes. Nationally, 122,547 hectares of existing cashew plantations have been rehabilitated, while 17,818 hectares of high-performing new cashew plantations have been established.

More than 350,000 beneficiaries reached

The project implemented cost-shared grants and provided funding for 248 subprojects within the pineapple and cashew value chains, benefiting a total of 351,851 individuals. Additionally, the project supported the construction of a cold storage terminal for perishable agricultural products at Cotonou airport.

Due to the significant increase in the cost of agricultural inputs on the international market, the project supported Benin’s agricultural sector by facilitating access to fertilizers valued at up to $100 million for the 2023–2026 seasons.