Benin organic farmers ready to go 

Organic cotton farmers in Benin are more than ready to scale up production and supply significant volumes of organic cotton, but face constraints in developing their market. Simon Ferrigno reports on farmers’ motivations, and on the opportunities and constraints affecting the development of organic cotton production.

Observing pheromone traps in organic cotton field, Benin. Photo: Simon Ferrigno

Farmers growing conventional cotton in Benin have suffered from falling prices and rising costs, and many are now queuing for the advice that will help them switch to organic systems. PAN UK’s partner in Benin, Organisation Béninoise pour la Promotion de l’Agriculture Biologique (OBEPAB) has established support for over 300 farmers. A farmer in one scheme described the benefits: ‘We used to have little or no cash from our cotton crop after paying for inputs. With organic, we use biopesticides, where the main expense is time spent collecting and mixing ingredients. We had health problems from cotton pesticides. The organic fertilizers we use provide a consistent yield by improving soil fertility, unlike chemical fertilizers which depleted fertility after two or three years.’ This article is based on interviews with farmers and the OBEPAB project team, following a visit to the country and organic cotton areas in September 2002.

Organic infrastructure needed
The organisation of conventional cotton production in Benin enables producer organisations to draw off funds to invest in the infrastructure for collection and distribution and other activities. One of the biggest problems facing farmers who move to organic is the lack of access to this infrastructure, and development of distribution systems is a priority. Core funds must be drawn from the sales of organic cotton to support these activities. The questions of who and how these institutions will be managed are crucial, and OBEPAB is promoting openness and transparency. Current farmer preferences are for producer-managed institutions, building on existing groups in the production zones. 
    Some actors pointed out that liberalisation of the economy offers good opportunities for the organic sector, as structures can grow from scratch and adapt to new situations. The entrenched structures of the conventional sector may adapt less quickly. Farmers should ideally have their own marketing and certification capacity through their own organic producer groups. 

Equal access to information 
While most farmers have difficulty gaining access to cotton market information, inequality of access between women and men is apparent. In the conventional cotton sector, men have better access to information than women. Although women are the food decision-makers, they have no access to information or decision-making on pesticides use. This may exacerbate the high levels of pesticide poisoning incidents in Benin (see PN 47 and 51).
    Most of the organic cotton pilot projects started by OBEPAB did not initially focus on integrating women, but this is now being addressed. The project has found that when women are integrated, success rates are higher, as women tend to be more sensitive to the problems of conventional cotton. The highest producing organic cotton farmer last year in Benin was a woman. 

Natural pesticides and fertilisation 
Pest control in the organic cotton system is highly dependent on local plants, made into biopesticides. There is a need to audit the indigenous knowledge, collecting evidence through farmer-interviews, and where possible combined with the work of formal research institutions. 
    Building up organic matter to enrich the soil is the foundation of organic agriculture. Villages in Northern Benin have ready access to organic manure as there is plenty of livestock. Farmers also use green fertilization (moukounna), and carry out rotations with leguminous crops. The most common biopesticide is a neem-based mixture. The recipe is crushed neem seeds mixed with water (2 kg to 15 litres), fermented for at least 24 hours, and preferably two or three days. Paw paw leaves, cotton soap, cows urine (1 litre), chilli and garlic (5 cloves) are then added. The mixture is sufficient to treat 1ha. After the first treatment, the cow urine is no longer used. Sourcing the ingredients is not a problem in most villages. 
    The mixture is less efficient than chemicals, but farmers accept the cost and safety trade-off. Neem-based sprays repulse pests rather than kill them, and some farmers release chickens in fields after spraying to eat stunned insects. The most common rotation is groundnut preceding cotton. Farmers make agreements to protect their organic crops: for example, Gera Paul in Kassakou has a ‘gentleman’s agreement' with his conventional neighbour respecting separation distances. 
    Farmers in Aklampa are busy looking for alternatives. They are experimenting with Tefrosia, Caissedra bark and wild onion (‘onion du mort’). Some doubts exist as to the safety of wild onion and OBEPAB hope to undertake lab tests. 

Farmer experimentation 
Farmers in Kandi are experimenting with caissedra bark. Increasingly, farmers are looking at early sowing and early harvesting, as this seems to avoid the worst pest attacks. Some farmers in Loholohouédye, Savé and other villages have trading agreements with Peul livestock pastoralists on exchanging grazing for manure collection. 
    Farmers collectively transport their crops to market, and arrange secure storage away from fire hazards. Two farmers, Daniel and Leontine Atou, farming 0.6 ha and 0.2 ha respectively in Amangwassi are experimenting with early treatments to see how this impacts on pest levels. The major pest pressures are from Sylepta and Diparo (this pest attacks flowers and causes them to fall). There are also problems with small spider mites (polyfargo). It is early days yet, but the field worker suggests re-evaluating treatment dates and composition. The fact that farmers have not been mixing ash into their fertilizer may be a factor in the presence of some pests, as ash is known to help healthy boll formation. However, the 2002-03 yield is expected to be good. 
    Farmers in Agbatou have been experimenting with biopesticides, and found that extracting chilli through heating is more efficient that the usual crushing method. Another woman farmer stressed the need to educate children in organic pest control, as it is very different to conventional farming. Another farmer, Dominique, explained how he passes through the fields with his children to scout, preferring to do a little every day. He has shown the children how to remove the pest and leave the boll intact. 

Constraints in organic
Producers in Gonsoué described organic cotton as a bus they had to run to catch!
    The current weaknesses included lack of livestock for fertilization and transport. Women are often more affected, and have to carry cow dung by hand. 
    In Kassakou, farmers would normally have sown in May for the best yields, but late rains – an increasingly common complaint among cotton farmers in Benin – meant later planting. Farmers lack cattle for ploughing. The lack of access to ploughs and other means of production caused some farmers to drop out of the project. Most farmers said they would convert to organic if a good marketing organisation was in place. Labour shortages at harvest time are a factor in low yields here, as they lead to late harvesting and some of the crop is lost. 
    Women need better access to the means of production for ploughing, sowing and other activities. These tend to be controlled by men who get first access to their use, giving them better production conditions. 
    Farmers here, as elsewhere, strongly complained of the lack of access to micro-credit. This was a key message for consumers and businesses. Nevertheless, farmers felt that organic cotton allows them to lead a healthier life, and increases their capacity to grow food crops.

Motivation 
Pierre Atissenou and his son Azinphé left conventional cotton due to debt problems, and are highly committed to organic production: ‘only death can remove us from organic’. They described their problems with conventional systems: farmers sometimes have to pay agents and buyers to accept their cotton; inputs are now so high against the cotton price that it is no longer possible to make a profit; Pierre felt ill for three days after spraying, which prevented him working; and it was not safe to work in the fields after spraying, especially for children.
    Gera Paul’s motivation is based on the fact that while organic farming is more difficult, it saves lives from not using pesticides. Debt and credit problems are reduced, and the only investment needed is energy. Income is all profit at the end of season. Land and soil are preserved, whereas chemical fertilizers destroy soil fertility very rapidly. Gera followed his mother, who has been farming for five years in the organic project. 
    Siongolo, the president of the Kassakou organic producer’s group, had a sick family to care for, so could not afford fertilizer. He has been farming organically for five years. When farming conventionally, he always suffered from minor health problems, such as colds and lung problems. He would very much like to double his organic cotton area (from 0.5 to 1 ha). As president, his role is to provide a good example and encourage more people to convert. Siongolo pointed out that a conventional farmer would need to get over two tonnes on 3 ha to gain a net income. With organic, it is all profit. Last year, he says, he was able to generate enough surplus to iron roof his workshop and mill. However there is a problem with insufficient demand. The farmers would like to set up a common fund to enable them to invest in ploughs, carts and livestock.
    In Gogbedi village, farmers have been unable to sell their conventional production recently because of lack of demand and their distance from the town. With organic, they have improved soil fertility and reduced debt problems. As in other areas they would like better access to ploughs, oxen and training. 
    In Djabago farmers described organic cotton as ‘a joy’. Notwithstanding the weather related problems, they have high hopes for this season. Access to credit was again cited as a problem, and the need for better biopesticides. The area under cotton is increasing as farmers gain in confidence, average yields so far are around 508kg/ha. 
    Motivation is among almost all the farmers visited was high, particularly when they see increased yields as they improve their organic techniques, although it appears that one factor limiting yields is the lack of incentives to keep improving once farmers have achieved an adequate income. Most farmers singled out the need for micro-credit, particularly assistance in setting up a self-managed common fund. Farmers still need better pest management options, and hope that their own and others’ research will develop better biopesticides. 

[This article first appeared in Pesticides News No. 58, December 2002, pages 20-21]