Reducing On-Farm Food Losses
In the OIC Member Countries
63
3.4. Case Study 4: Groundnuts in Benin
Peanut is an annual legume. It is both a food and industrial crop. Groundnut is mainly exported
for its oil content (of about 50%). West Africa cultivates around 57% of African production is
nearly 5million tons. Major OICmember country producers also include Senegal, Nigeria, Sudan,
Indonesia, Burkina Faso, and Cameroon.
3.4.1. Status and Importance
Benin had a total of 150,000 tonnes of groundnut production in 2013 (FAOSTAT3), with a low
yield of less than 600 kg/ha. Groundnut in Benin is rarely exported and mainly produced for
local consumption, with a large part used for oil production and the rest used to make a highly
valued product called kuli-kuli which are deep-fried groundnut sticks. Locally groundnuts are
also consumed boiled, grilled and as peanut butter.
Peanuts are grown throughout the intertropical area. The optimum temperature for the growth
of the plant is between 24 and 35ºC. Pod development is better when the temperature in the
ground is less than 30ºC. Long days (greater than 14 hours) combined with the above 30ºC night
temperatures can result in abundant production. Early sowing during long days leads to higher
yields. Generally peanut plants are tolerant to drought, and they can be produced in regions of
between 400 and 1200 mm rainfall. To facilitate the penetration of the root system light soils
that are sandy fine-textured, loose and permeable are better suited for peanut. Clay soils are
difficult to cultivate by hand like usual in Benin and suitable for peanuts when mechanization
and irrigation is available. PH neutral soils are more suitable for peanuts.
The seeds used in Benin are usually those that are recycled from previous harvests. These seeds
are not certified but are of good quality as 100% of interviewed producers stated. There is really
no commercial seed production and seed distribution for peanut in Benin. The Regional
Agricultural Center for Rural Development (CARDER) which is a support structure of the
Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, provides no seed to producers. Seeds are
purchased at market or supplied by friends or relatives of peanut producers.
3.4.2. Assessment of On-Farm Losses & Economic Burden
There have been several reports of aflatoxin contamination in groundnuts in Benin (Egal et al.
2005). Otherwise not much is known known about the causes of on-farm losses since groundnut
is an under-researched and under-developed crop with low yields and low quality, mainly due
to high levels of aflatoxin in Benin. Required fertilizer application dates and doses are not
respected, because input distribution is lacking.