Seed system innovation is strengthening Benin’s fruit and vegetable sector, delivering resilient varieties to over 3,000 smallholder farmers.
Smallholder farmers in Benin faced low yields due to limited access to resilient seed varieties. The CGIAR FRESH Initiative, in collaboration with the World Vegetable Center and national partners, introduced 27 improved vegetable varieties through on-farm trials, distributing seeds to over 3,000 farmers. Early certification and seed replication began in 2024, with plans to scale production in 2025. With better access to quality inputs, farmers are improving their livelihoods and strengthening local vegetable supply chains.
High-quality seeds are essential for ensuring a stable supply of diverse, safe, and nutritious vegetables. Yet, for years, farmers in Benin struggled to obtain improved varieties suited to their growing conditions. The national seed catalog included only ten registered local vegetable varieties, many highly susceptible to disease. With few alternatives and hybrid seeds unaffordable and inaccessible for most small-scale farmers, vegetable crop yields remained low.
This challenge was particularly evident in the Valley of Ouémé, a key vegetable production region. Tomato farms were devastated by bacterial wilt, a soil-borne disease that wiped out entire harvests, forcing most farmers to abandon production altogether. As a result, vegetable supply dwindled in local markets, as did income opportunities for farmers, traders, and vendors.
The CGIAR Research Initiative on Fruit and Vegetables for Sustainable Healthy Diets (FRESH) partnered with the World Vegetable Center to introduce improved vegetable varieties in Benin with good resistance or tolerance to local biotic and abiotic constraints. A rigorous selection process identified 27 promising okra, tomato, amaranth, and pepper varieties. Participatory on-farm trials were conducted throughout the country, enabling farmers to assess the varieties’ performance firsthand.
FRESH worked closely with the National Institute of Agricultural Research of Benin to fast-track variety registration in the national seed catalog. To ensure the new seeds could reach farmers as quickly as possible, the Ministry of Agriculture, through the National Seed Service, allowed seed multiplication to begin before the official release. FRESH partnered with three local seed companies to start seed production.
FRESH also invested in strengthening the capacity of Benin’s seed system. Seed company staff were trained in seed production and marketing, enabling them to produce and distribute the varieties more effectively. More than 3,000 seed samples were distributed to farmers so that they could test the varieties themselves. The first certified seed production was completed in 2024, paving the way for commercialization.
With improved access to disease-resistant, high-yielding seeds, farmers in Benin are better positioned to increase production, enhance their livelihoods, and contribute to a more stable food supply. By partnering with local seed companies, FRESH laid the foundation for a sustainable system that ensures continued access to quality seed, reducing reliance on seed imports. As production increases, markets will benefit from the steadier supply, while consumers will have greater access to fresh, nutritious vegetables at more affordable prices. Through this holistic approach, FRESH is contributing to a food system that is more resilient and nutrition-sensitive, benefitting farmers, consumers, and communities across Benin.
“I improved my technical know-how in seed production and marketing through the capacity strengthening supported by FRESH. Vegetable seed producers used to have very limited access to vegetable varieties, limiting our profitability as we all end up producing the same variety. With the newly released varieties, we have more choices to better serve farmers. The varieties are well-adapted to local production conditions, and we are ready to meet the demand being created through field days and seed kit distribution. The first batch of seed of the released varieties was certified and will hit the market soon.”
Mr. Hyacinthe Eke, Head of the Seed Cooperative Jardin Pour Tous (JPT), and the Head of the National Vegetable Seed Producers Association, Abomey-Calavi, Benin
Header photo: A farmer assessing tomato quality during a participatory evaluation, Dassa-Zoume, Benin.