The Communal Approach to the Agricultural Market in Benin, Phase 3 (ACMA3) project, funded by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands (EKN), recently took part in the inaugural Benin Poultry Expo in Cotonou.
The expo, jointly organized by the Interprofessional Poultry Association of Benin (IAB) and the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, and Fisheries (MAEP), took place June 25-27. The event served as an excellent opportunity for promotion of the poultry industry in Benin, as well as an ideal setting for farmers, equipment suppliers, agribusinesses, and others to exchange experiences, share opportunities, and develop business partnerships.
“Thanks to ACMA3, we received lots of support, which allows us to be present with healthy animals that we can sell easily.”
Mireille Kintorou, member of the Communal Association of Poultry Farmers of Dassa-Zoumé
The ACMA3 project envisions a dynamic and inclusive local economy, generating income and jobs and contributing sustainably to food and nutritional security in the context of climate shifts. The objective of the project is to facilitate systemic change aimed at sustainable income growth and job creation, supported by the emergence of a private agricultural and agri-food sector.
ACMA3 focuses on increasing the visibility of its agribusiness cluster actors and promoting their products. Since its launch, the project has consistently fostered strong business relationships and identified new market opportunities.
During the expo, ACMA3 hosted a booth to showcase its activities and the poultry innovations it promotes. Moreover, the project supported its partners’ participation in the expo: two poultry farmers, a feed and chick supplier, and a veterinarian operated two additional booths at the event.
The expo also provided a good opportunity to strengthen collaboration between ACMA3, IAB, and MAEP and allowed the creation of synergies with other EKN-funded projects, such as the Youth Employment for Food Security Improvement (EJASA) and Benin Poultry Value Chain Transformation (BeniPoule) projects, which operate in the food and nutrition security space, mainly through poultry farming.
Two ACMA3 partners who attended the expo had great things to say about the project’s support: “Thanks to ACMA3, we received lots of support, which allows us to be present with healthy animals that we can sell easily,” observed Mireille Kintorou.
As a member of the Communal Association of Poultry Farmers of Dassa-Zoumé, one of the communities benefiting from ACMA3’s interventions, Mireille said she is also eagerly awaiting favorable results from ACMA3’s recent facilitation of decentralized financial services to grant loans to develop their activities.
Gédéon Gbagui, a young agribusiness actor supported by ACMA3, remarked that his business is more visible today thanks to the project. “My sales for the incubators I manufacture have increased, and I even showcased a high-capacity model at the expo,” he said.
The Benin Poultry Expo helped the ACMA3 project raise awareness of its innovative approaches in the poultry sector. The increased attention given to the project translated to greater awareness of its partners’ agribusinesses, including those of Mireille and Gédéon.
By participating in the Benin Poultry Expo, ACMA3 took another strategic step forward in its goals of job creation, private sector economic development, and increased productivity in Benin.
The Communal Approach to the Agricultural Market in Benin (ACMA) program, financed by the Embassy of the Netherlands in Benin since 2013, is implemented by the International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC) in a consortium with CARE International Benin and KIT.
