It is through its website that the Beninese government wanted to re-establish the truth on the situation of agricultural inputs. “Contrary to certain rumours, the government of President Patrice Talon has indeed taken the necessary measures to facilitate the task of producers for agricultural production in the best conditions despite the global economic crisis which is also shaking our country”, we read, bonus on board, in the source mentioned above.
According to our source, more than 50 billion FCFA have been disbursed to subsidize inputs for the benefit of farmers.
According to the text, a visit to the Autonomous Port of Cotonou on Wednesday June 8, 2022 enabled Minister Gaston Cossi Dossouhoui and his delegation to observe the landing of a Urea vessel of nearly 42,000 tonnes being unloaded.
“To date, we have received five ships of NPK fertilizer for over 200,000 tons. Currently at the Port, there is a 6th urea vessel of nearly 42,000 tonnes being unloaded. The last ship is scheduled to dock on Thursday June 9, 2022 with nearly 31,000 tonnes of Urea inputs on board. When this last ship arrived, we would have received all our fertilizer orders, which amount to nearly 270,000 tonnes. Fertilizers are distributed on the national territory according to the needs expressed according to the zones. Inputs are available. I reassure the producers”, indicated, in remarks made public by the website of the government of Benin, the director general of the Cotton Development Company (SODECO), Serge Aderomou.
“We have just seen an unloading of 42,000 tons of urea fertilizer. Thursday, June 9, 2022, another ship comes with a cargo of 31,000 tons. In terms of fertilizers, Benin is in the process of obtaining all the quantities ordered. Better, today, 36,000 tons are already distributed in stores on the national territory. So don’t be afraid. Now, our producers must be able to exploit them wisely,” said Minister Gaston Cossi Dossouhoui at the end of the visit.
The Beninese official who confided that “the campaign is going well” was delighted with the fact that in terms of fertilizers, Benin is in the process of obtaining all the quantities ordered.
The official website of the Beninese government, which quotes the minister, noted that in addition to SODECO, there are other small operators who have also imported stocks, especially specific fertilizers for pineapple, cashew or others.
“Today, we are comfortable saying that when it comes to inputs, Benin is on pace. Better still, we also have locally produced fertilizers for market gardeners in large quantities. These fertilizers can be used to produce, even organic, in places. Finally, seeds are available everywhere we need to be able to place them. Plants are available at subsidized prices. It remains to work, to produce in quality, to produce in quantity to earn a lot of money. Everyone who puts themselves on the processing line will win. We must take advantage of the opportunity offered by the regional market to scale up the production capacity of cereals, roots and tubers in my country. I have faith and the peasants are committed. The campaign is going well because the rainy season is still good. To date, I am happy to note that the early sowing of cotton will increase significantly to more than 40,000 tons compared to the last campaign. Thus, we are going to prance on the roofs”, he underlined in the website.
Moctar FICOU / VivAfrik