Unlocking sorghum market opportunities in Benin

Sorghum is a key staple crop cultivated across the central and northern regions of Benin. It plays a vital role in ensuring food security, supporting rural livelihoods, and contributing to the agricultural economy. Despite its adaptability to diverse agroecological zones and its ranking as the third...

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Main Authors: Anihouvi, Sèdo Eudes, Pede, Pénelope, Adinsi, Laurent, Hotegni, Francis, Honfozo, Laurenda, Bouniol, Alexandre, Tran, Thierry, Dufour, Dominique, Akissoe, Noël
Format: Brief
Language:Inglés
Published: CGIAR Science Program on Breeding for Tomorrow 2025
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/176580
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author Anihouvi, Sèdo Eudes
Pede, Pénelope
Adinsi, Laurent
Hotegni, Francis
Honfozo, Laurenda
Bouniol, Alexandre
Tran, Thierry
Dufour, Dominique
Akissoe, Noël
author_browse Adinsi, Laurent
Akissoe, Noël
Anihouvi, Sèdo Eudes
Bouniol, Alexandre
Dufour, Dominique
Honfozo, Laurenda
Hotegni, Francis
Pede, Pénelope
Tran, Thierry
author_facet Anihouvi, Sèdo Eudes
Pede, Pénelope
Adinsi, Laurent
Hotegni, Francis
Honfozo, Laurenda
Bouniol, Alexandre
Tran, Thierry
Dufour, Dominique
Akissoe, Noël
author_sort Anihouvi, Sèdo Eudes
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description Sorghum is a key staple crop cultivated across the central and northern regions of Benin. It plays a vital role in ensuring food security, supporting rural livelihoods, and contributing to the agricultural economy. Despite its adaptability to diverse agroecological zones and its ranking as the third most important cereal crop after maize and rice, sorghum remains absent from the government’s list of priority crops. This brief draws on a synthesis of existing knowledge and stakeholder surveys involving farmers, traders, and consumers to identify the constraints and opportunities surrounding sorghum production and marketing in Benin. The findings reveal major challenges such as a lack of quality seed supply, limited extension services, and vulnerability to biotic and abiotic stresses. Farmers often rely on seeds from previous harvests or local markets, thus hindering the adoption of improved varieties. Economically, sorghum cultivation is more profitable than maize, with an opportunity cost advantage of approximately 54,000 FCFA (USD 108) per hectare. Market segmentation is emerging based on end-user preferences, ranging from red sorghum enthusiasts to a growing demand for white sorghum. This highlights untapped potential for targeted value chain development. To fully leverage sorghum’s potential, strategic interventions are needed in several areas: strengthening seed systems, improving access to extension services, enhancing institutional support, and developing structured market segments (as seen in successful rice, pineapple, and cashew sectors). By addressing production constraints and promoting climate-resilient varieties, sorghum can play a central role in boosting food security, nutrition, and economic resilience in Benin.
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spelling CGSpace1765802025-12-08T09:54:28Z Unlocking sorghum market opportunities in Benin Anihouvi, Sèdo Eudes Pede, Pénelope Adinsi, Laurent Hotegni, Francis Honfozo, Laurenda Bouniol, Alexandre Tran, Thierry Dufour, Dominique Akissoe, Noël sorghum Benin market segmentation value chains enabling environment Sorghum is a key staple crop cultivated across the central and northern regions of Benin. It plays a vital role in ensuring food security, supporting rural livelihoods, and contributing to the agricultural economy. Despite its adaptability to diverse agroecological zones and its ranking as the third most important cereal crop after maize and rice, sorghum remains absent from the government’s list of priority crops. This brief draws on a synthesis of existing knowledge and stakeholder surveys involving farmers, traders, and consumers to identify the constraints and opportunities surrounding sorghum production and marketing in Benin. The findings reveal major challenges such as a lack of quality seed supply, limited extension services, and vulnerability to biotic and abiotic stresses. Farmers often rely on seeds from previous harvests or local markets, thus hindering the adoption of improved varieties. Economically, sorghum cultivation is more profitable than maize, with an opportunity cost advantage of approximately 54,000 FCFA (USD 108) per hectare. Market segmentation is emerging based on end-user preferences, ranging from red sorghum enthusiasts to a growing demand for white sorghum. This highlights untapped potential for targeted value chain development. To fully leverage sorghum’s potential, strategic interventions are needed in several areas: strengthening seed systems, improving access to extension services, enhancing institutional support, and developing structured market segments (as seen in successful rice, pineapple, and cashew sectors). By addressing production constraints and promoting climate-resilient varieties, sorghum can play a central role in boosting food security, nutrition, and economic resilience in Benin. 2025-09 2025-09-19T07:14:07Z 2025-09-19T07:14:07Z Brief https://hdl.handle.net/10568/176580 en Open Access application/pdf CGIAR Science Program on Breeding for Tomorrow Anihouvi, S., Pede, P., Adinsi, L., Hotegni, F.,Honfozo, L., Bouniol, A., Tran, T., Dufour, D., and Akissoe, N. 2025. Unlocking sorghum market opportunities in Benin. Market Intelligence Brief Series 26, Montpellier: CGIAR.
spellingShingle sorghum
Benin
market segmentation
value chains
enabling environment
Anihouvi, Sèdo Eudes
Pede, Pénelope
Adinsi, Laurent
Hotegni, Francis
Honfozo, Laurenda
Bouniol, Alexandre
Tran, Thierry
Dufour, Dominique
Akissoe, Noël
Unlocking sorghum market opportunities in Benin
title Unlocking sorghum market opportunities in Benin
title_full Unlocking sorghum market opportunities in Benin
title_fullStr Unlocking sorghum market opportunities in Benin
title_full_unstemmed Unlocking sorghum market opportunities in Benin
title_short Unlocking sorghum market opportunities in Benin
title_sort unlocking sorghum market opportunities in benin
topic sorghum
Benin
market segmentation
value chains
enabling environment
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/176580
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