Women are also holding their own in Benin’s pineapple sector

Between 2019 and 2023, the pineapple value chain in Benin underwent a quiet but profound transformation. The Belgian agency for international cooperation, Enabel, contributed to increased productivity in pineapple cultivation in Benin and to more professional processing of pineapples. Women, too, secured their place at every level of the chain.

In countries that still rely heavily on agriculture, strengthening the sector can be a powerful driver of development. In Benin, for instance, around 70% of the population depends on it for their livelihood.
 

Subsistence farming

However, limited access to land, poor organisation among stakeholders, and insufficient investment (both financial and technological) have long held the sector back. As a result, many Beninese farmers are forced to settle for mere subsistence farming, rather than being able to grow into fully fledged agricultural entrepreneurs.

In 2019, Belgium decided to invest heavily in pineapple cultivation. The Belgian agency for international cooperation, Enabel, implemented the project Développement de l’Entrepreneuriat dans les Filières Agricoles (Development of Agricultural Entrepreneurship - DEFIA), in collaboration with actors from the agricultural sector, local NGOs, universities, and research centres.
 

Production areas

Pineapple production is concentrated in the Atlantique department, the “high-production zone” accounting for around 90% of national output. In addition, the departments of Plateau, Mono, Couffo, and Zou are considered “expansion zones”. Although production there remains very low, they are well suited to pineapple cultivation. Most pineapple producers farm plots of between 0.5 and 1 hectare.
 

Sugarloaf

This juicy fruit offers considerable potential for both domestic consumption and export, and can be processed into a wide range of products; juice, dried strips, canned slices, powder, and more. Improved processing also creates added value locally, not least because it allows for better preservation.

Benin is also home to particularly delicious varieties, such as the “Benin Sugarloaf” (pain de sucre), which is highly appreciated by consumers. This variety is the most widely grown (75%), surpassing the “Smooth Cayenne” variety, which is cultivated specifically for export.

At present, Benin ranks fourth among pineapple-producing countries in Africa, behind Nigeria, Ghana, and Angola. The European Union, in particular, represents a promising export market.
 

Drones

DEFIA focused on multiple links within the value chain. Producers received training in sustainable agro-ecological practices, water management, and restoring soil fertility, among other areas. They also learned to better navigate market dynamics, and their entrepreneurial spirit was encouraged.

Advanced techniques were introduced as well. Drones now make it possible to assess the individual needs of pineapple plants, such as water and nutrient requirements, from the air. This is far more efficient than inspecting each plant manually in the field.

GLOBALG.A.P. certification

The project also invested not only in small and medium-sized enterprises responsible for processing and marketing juice and dried pineapple strips (organic and conventional), but also in exporters of fresh pineapples.

Several companies obtained GLOBALG.A.P. certification (Good Agricultural Practice). Thanks to this quality label, they gained access to niche markets offering higher returns, as the products meet international standards.

No identity card

The project paid particular attention to women, who face numerous obstacles in Benin. Many do not even possess an identity card. As a result, they cannot register as landowners, access microcredit, or travel freely in search of new markets for their products.

They are even unable to register a simple SIM card for their phone, something essential for transferring money or keeping track of market prices and weather conditions, among other things. Many women have limited education, some are even illiterate, so keeping detailed accounts of their various activities is often out of the question.

Moreover, tradition dictates that they must first assist their husbands before tending to their own farming work. This obviously restricts their ability to develop new sources of income for their families.

Phones and social media

Nevertheless, women play a crucial role in the Benin economy. No fewer than 70% live in rural areas, where they carry out 50 to 80% of agricultural work and contribute up to 44% of the labour required to feed their families. Within the pineapple farming sector, women accounted for around 15% of holdings in 2019, typically cultivating plots smaller than 0.5 hectares.

To strengthen women’s position within the pineapple value chain, DEFIA organised a wide range of activities, including:

• Support in obtaining an identity card.
• Training in the effective use of phones and social media, for example to better market their products.
• Instruction in using digital accounting tools, drafting business plans, and applying for microcredit.
• Access to subsidies to remove old pineapple stumps, plough land, supply and plant shoots, and obtain biodegradable mulch films (which reduce evaporation and largely eliminate the need for weeding).
• Advocacy for improved access to land, and connecting women with owners of unused but suitable land for pineapple cultivation.
• Support in acquiring appropriate equipment.
• Coaching to improve market access.

Getting their husbands involved was also essential. Through training, they came to better understand women’s need for independence, something that was strongly appreciated. Some even acknowledged that the coaching provided to their wives had also improved their own productivity.
 

674 women

The DEFIA project can rightly be described as a success. Its target of increasing the income of 6,000 agricultural entrepreneurs was achieved. The pineapple value chain, including processing, has become significantly stronger, both for domestic markets and for export within and beyond Africa.

In addition, 674 women received training to support their business activities and independence; equivalent to 77% of female pineapple farmers in Benin. Furthermore:

• 399 hectares were planted specifically for women.
• 364 hectares of land were made available to 343 women.
• 433 women reported gaining access to credit and microfinancing thanks to the project.
• The share of women in pineapple production rose from 15% in 2019 to 30% in 2023.
• 40% of women reported that they had gained greater autonomy in making decisions about their lives and households.

And there is more. The project has set in motion a process that continues to bear fruit beyond 2023, towards a more professional pineapple value chain, higher incomes, and a stronger position on the international pineapple market.