Benin

2024 marked a transitional year for Benin with the conclusion of Enabel’s DEFIA programme which supported 2,145 producers, 89.8% of whom adopted at least one of three agroecological innovations: the intensive rice-growing system, good agricultural practices (GAP) aligned with the SRP standard, and either neem-coated urea or vermicompost and its tea. The resulting evidence led to the publication of nine technical documents and two brochures on the SRP standard by INRAB, the national institute for agricultural research. This capitalisation process and scaling-up planning phase was supported with Rikolto’s own funds, while the new PARSAD/Enabel programme starting in 2025 will ensure the dissemination of the materials in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture to promote large-scale adoption of sustainable rice practices. The new project builds on the DEFIA area in the South and expands to a new agricultural region to support 4,500 rice new farmers and promote sustainable rice “Made in Benin."