The National Platform for Market Garden Stakeholders in Benin is an initiative aimed at revitalizing a sector crucial to the country's economy and food security. In response to challenges such as limited access to quality inputs, lack of coordination among stakeholders, and low adoption of innovative technologies, this collaborative platform brings together various organizations to improve synergy and strengthen the competitiveness of Benin's market gardening sector.
A Collaborative Initiative to Energize the Sector This platform is the result of a collaboration between the African Centre for Development Equity (ACED), the Laboratory for Research on Innovation and Agricultural Development (LRIDA), Holland Green Tech (HGT), the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and the Territorial Agency for Agricultural Development (ATDA) pole 1.
Platform Objectives and Implementation The platform pursues two main objectives: improving synergy among market gardening sector stakeholders and strengthening the sector's competitiveness. To achieve these objectives, a detailed mapping of stakeholders and strategic interventions was conducted, followed by an in-depth assessment of existing consultation frameworks. These preliminary steps provided a precise overview of Benin's market gardening ecosystem. The platform's official launch was accompanied by capacity-building sessions for stakeholders. These training sessions, focused on managing a multi-stakeholder platform, aim to ensure the initiative's effectiveness and sustainability.
Concrete Actions and Results As part of this initiative, three complementary thematic workshops were organized to address major challenges in Benin's market gardening sector.
The first workshop focused on quality inputs, presenting current regulatory frameworks, discussing barriers to input access, and identifying appropriate support mechanisms. The second workshop addressed the essential issue of data collection, a key element for decision-making and sector monitoring. Participants analyzed the current data collection system, identified its strengths and weaknesses, and proposed concrete actions to improve data reliability. Finally, in the context of climate change, a third workshop was dedicated to innovations highlighting technologies for production, conservation, and processing of market garden products. Together, these three workshops enabled a holistic approach to the sector's main challenges, from input supply to climate change adaptation and data management. The platform also established four thematic groups covering essential aspects of the sector: access to reliable production and marketing data, market access, processing and conservation technologies, and access to quality inputs. This systemic approach allows for a coherent and interconnected approach to sector challenges. To complement this framework, information sessions on market access were organized, including webinars on local and export opportunities for fresh vegetables. These sessions offered stakeholders concrete perspectives for commercial development, thus strengthening the economic viability of Benin's market gardening sector.
Tangible Results and Future Prospects The initial results of this initiative are encouraging. A directory of sector projects and programs has been established, providing an overview of ongoing actions and facilitating synergies. A detailed mapping of the sector's status in 2022 helped identify key stakeholders, their interrelationships, and weaknesses in existing consultation frameworks. The platform has become a true hub for exchange, strengthening business relationships and collaborations within the sector. Two essential directories have been produced, one on market garden input supply and another on innovative technologies in the sector, providing stakeholders with valuable tools to improve their practices and productivity. To ensure the sustainability of these achievements, a management committee has been established, comprising a coordination committee and a technical committee. Three funding options are being considered: stakeholder self-funding, collaboration with existing projects, and partnership development.
The National Platform for Market Garden Stakeholders in Benin marks a decisive step in the sector's evolution. Through its integrated and collaborative approach, the platform strategically positions the market gardening sector as an essential lever for Benin's economic growth and food security. Its success paves the way for a promising agricultural development model that can be adapted to other sectors in the country.