On July 2 in Parakou, six seed suppliers supported by the Communal Approach to the Agricultural Market in Benin, Phase 3 (ACMA3) program received their professional approvals from the Government of Benin for the distribution of certified plant seeds.
This official recognition marks an important milestone in their professional journeys and reflects the program’s commitment to promoting a more structured, inclusive, and sustainable agricultural entrepreneurship ecosystem in Benin.
“This approval strengthens our visibility, credibility, and business opportunities.”
Pauline Edjadessiba, Seed supplier
Official Recognition for Key Actors in the Seed Sector
Before joining the ACMA3 program, several of these seed suppliers had operated informally, without professional approval. Their credibility with farmers and partners was limited, and their access to market opportunities was inhibited. Distribution in compliance with national regulations was not always guaranteed for their seed.
So for the six seed suppliers, receiving professional approval is especially meaningful. Far more than an administrative formality, it recognizes their essential role in supplying farmers with quality plant seeds while strengthening their legitimacy in a sector that is strategic for agricultural performance.
The seed suppliers’ new status means that farmers will have greater access to reliable seeds from recognized distributors who can provide products that comply with high standards – such as varietal integrity, intact seed germination capacity, and isolated varieties and generations – to help secure agricultural seasons.
Structured Support toward Professionalization
Recognizing the importance of having a network of professional, reliable seed distributors capable of sustainably meeting farmers’ needs, the ACMA3 program provided the six seed suppliers with structured support, which helped strengthen their skills, facilitate their compliance with regulatory requirements, and consolidate their positioning in the seed sector.
ACMA3 took several steps in providing this support, first by engaging a competitive selection process among high-potential seed suppliers in the program’s intervention areas. The program then conducted training sessions on plant seed distribution and compliance with regulatory requirements, provided tailored assistance in preparing application files to be submitted, and helped organize special sessions with the National Plant Seed Committee (CNSV), the body responsible for reviewing and validating applications.
ACMA3 Chief of Party Ousmane Ouédraogo summarized the process: “Through ACMA3, we are strengthening actors in the seed value chain to sustainably improve farmers’ access to quality seeds. This support focuses on training, compliance, and the acquisition of professional approvals.”
Approvals that Open New Opportunities
These efforts led to a concrete achievement. Following the review and evaluation of their files by the relevant public technical services, all six seed suppliers officially received their approvals, signed by Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, and Fisheries Adin Bloukounon Goubalan. They are now legally authorized to distribute plant seeds across the national territory, strengthening trust among distributors, farmers, and public institutions.
Pauline Edjadessiba, one of the participating seed suppliers, declared, “After thirty years of service in the agriculture sector, I am continuing my transition into the distribution of certified seeds – an activity I am passionate about and that provides additional income.”
Pauline noted her gratitude to the ACMA3 program because this professional recognition improves the seed suppliers’ position in the sector: “This approval strengthens our visibility, credibility, and business opportunities.”
Showcasing Local Agricultural Entrepreneurship
The official approval ceremony brought together agricultural farmers and decentralized structures of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, and Fisheries (MAEP) – including branches of both the Departmental Directorate of Agriculture, Livestock, and Fisheries (DDAEP) and the Territorial Agricultural Development Agency (ATDA) operating in the program area – as well as the Beninese Seed and Plant Development Company (SoDeSeP) and the Youth Employment for Food Security Improvement (EJASA) project.
Most importantly, the event provided visibility to the seed suppliers’ enterprises and celebrated their success. It highlighted the results the ACMA3 program achieved in promoting agricultural entrepreneurship and helping local actors gain formal recognition for their services to rural communities.
A Lever for Access to Quality Seeds
This milestone is a significant accomplishment for the seed suppliers, and it reveals ACMA3’s contribution to the professionalization of plant seed distribution and to improving farmers’ access to quality inputs. Through well-trained, officially recognized seed suppliers, regulation-compliant seeds are more readily available to farmers locally, along with advice tailored to their needs.
This progress also reflects the program’s commitment to promoting the economic inclusion of youth and women in agricultural systems.
At the approval ceremony, the seed suppliers shared their experiences, challenges they faced in obtaining their approvals, and the solutions they implemented. They thanked ACMA3 for strengthening their understanding of sector requirements, their credibility, and their confidence. Their journeys show that, with appropriate support, local actors can become real drivers of transformation for a more productive and sustainable agriculture sector 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.
