Shared mechanization in Benin : improving farmers’ emancipation and agricultural productivity

Project began in the north of Benin, in the Borgou-Alibori region, where manual cultivation is widespread. Hardness of the work and low productivity maintain farmers in a state of poverty and doesn’t allow them to reach a sustainable level of production, whereas soils are fertile and available. The partnership with the French association Cuma Benin is focused on the development of shared mechanization in agriculture. There are now more than 150 Cuma (farm machinery cooperatives) all over the country. Support to these groups is brought by regional unions of Cuma, and one national Union of Beninese Cuma is in charge of advocacy issues and coordination of this young network. Most of the Cuma have invested (or are going to invest) in a tractor, a plough and a trailer. As training of mechanics is a key point, trainings centres specialized in agricultural mechanization are also at the core of the cooperation. The partnership deal also with access to tractors of good quality and to spare parts. A machinery chain has been built in order to import second-hand tractors from France, as long as local supply isn’t sufficient. A strong impact on social living conditions has been observed : less child work (they don’t have to work so much in the fields and can go to school), emergence of leaders, better incomes…

With the FAO, the french fundation FARM and the FNCUMA, a study has been completed on this cooperative experience. The summary of this study in english can be download here.

An African workshop organized by FAO and the UNCuma Benin took also place in Benin, in November 2015, with decision-makers, in order to draw lessons from that experience.