The Board of Directors of the African Development Bank Group approved a €102.12 million loan to Benin to implement the first phase of the Agriculture Transformation Programme in the country’s savannah region. The initiative aims to sustainably increase national poultry meat production by integrating maize, soybean, and poultry value chains, thereby strengthening food sovereignty, improving food security, creating jobs, and promoting inclusive economic development.
The programme emphasizes the use of modern agricultural technologies and active private sector participation to enhance productivity, drawing inspiration from Brazil’s Cerrado transformation, which turned the region into a major food basket. Robert Masumbuko, the Bank’s Country Manager in Benin, highlighted that the project would be executed in multiple phases to support gradual growth of the poultry sector, particularly broiler production, which requires high input levels.
Running from 2026 to 2030, the project will cultivate 120,000 hectares of maize and 80,000 hectares of soybean, targeting an annual poultry output of around 41,000 tonnes. Beneficiaries will receive broiler chicken farming kits, certified seeds, fertilisers, plant protection products, and portable equipment to improve sowing and crop management. The programme will promote good agricultural practices, structured water management, climate resilience, and pest control.
The project will also establish a multi-stakeholder platform for agricultural and environmental research on maize and soybean cropping systems and promote climate-resilient, nutrient-rich seeds. Storage capacity will be enhanced with the construction of 1000-tonne barns, 500-tonne barns, and drying areas, improving the overall efficiency and sustainability of the supply chain.
Implementation of the programme is expected to directly benefit approximately 50,000 people in Benin’s savannah region, with an additional 500,000 people benefiting indirectly. Notably, 30% of the target beneficiaries in both groups will be women, supporting gender inclusion and empowerment within the agricultural sector.
