WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  WT/CFMC/W/36 
23 May 2008 
 
 (08-2628) 
 Original:   French 
  
DIRECTOR-GENERAL'S CONSULTATIVE FRAMEWORK 
MECHANISM ON COTTON 
 
Cotton Projects
1 
 
Communication from Benin 
 
 
 The following communication, dated 20 November 2007, is being circulated at the request of 
the delegation of Benin.  
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ASSOCIATION INTERPROFESSIONNELLE DU COTON 
(INTERPROFESSIONAL COTTON ASSOCIATION) 
 
SUPPORT PROJECT FOR THE INSTALLATION OF BASIC INFRASTRUCTURE 
AND EQUIPMENT FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF COTTON- 
GROWING IN THE REPUBLIC OF BENIN 
  
I. INTRODUCTION 
1. This support project for the installation of basic infrastructure and equipment for the 
development of cotton-growing goes hand-in-hand w ith the Government's policy aimed at reducing 
poverty and improving the living standards of isolated  populations.  The idea is to provide producers 
and their grassroots organizations with agricultural equipment for the intermediate mechanization of 
infrastructure for the storage of agricultural inputs. 
2. This project covers eight departments and 25 communes, and will cost CFAF 4.84 billion.  
Seventy per cent of the cost of building the warehou ses is to be financed by the partners, and 30 per 
cent by the grassroots producers' organizations, while the recipients of the agricultural equipment will 
be covering 60 per cent of the purchase costs. 
II. OBJECTIVES 
3. The global objectives are: 
(a) To reduce rural poverty; 
(b) to improve the living conditions of the populations of the project area; 
(c) to improve the storage conditions for agricultural inputs and equipment. 
                                                     
 
1 This project had previously been distributed under the symbol JOB(07)/187. WT/CFMC/W/36 
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III. LOCATION 
4. The project will concern the cotton-producing departments, i.e. eight of Benin's 
12 departments, namely: 
(a) Atacora (communes of Kérou, Kouand é, Péhunco, Toucountouna and Cobly); 
(b) Donga (communes of Copargo and Bassila); 
(c) Alibori (communes of Banikora, Gogounou, Kandi and Ségbana); 
(d) Borgou (communes of Kalalé, N'da li, Sinendé, Nikki et Perèrè); 
(e) Collines (communes of Glazoué, Dassa Zoumé and Savalou); 
(f) Zou (communes of Djidja, Agbangnizoun and Zogbodomey); 
(g) Couffo (communes of Djakotomey, Aplahoué et Klouékanmè); 
(h) Plateau (commune of Kétou). 
IV. INTERVENTION STRATEGY 
5. In general terms, project implementation will be based on the principles of the new strategy 
that has been drawn up for the agricultu ral and rural sector in Benin, namely: 
(a) An integrated participatory approach; 
(b) observance of accepted standards for the construction of warehouses; 
(c) transfer of responsibility to the beneficiaries; 
(d) cautious and progressive mechanization of agriculture. 
V. DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT COMPONENTS 
6. The project will consist of two components, namely: 
(i) Construction of warehouses 
7. Needs assessments will be conducted in the diffe rent communes that have been identified, 
and the infrastructure can only be built with the support of the beneficiaries. 
8. The plan is to construct in each commune, at the village cotton producers' association (GVPC) 
level, one or several warehouses for the storage of inputs and seeds.  The size of these warehouses 
will depend on the volume of cotton production in the area concerned. 
(ii) Provision of equipment for cotton producers 
9. This will involve: 
(a) raising the awareness of producers of the need to purchase a minimum amount of 
equipment to make their farms more profitable, and mobilization of their 
contributions in order to obtain financing; WT/CFMC/W/36 
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(b) purchase of equipment for progressive mechanization (equipment for draft animals, 
pedestrian-controlled and other tractors); 
(c) training of beneficiaries to ensure better use of the agricultural equipment purchased. 
VI. ORGANIZATION AND MANAGEMENT OF THE PROJECT 
10. The implementation and management of the project will be overseen by the Permanent 
Secretariat of the AIC, which will act as a framewo rk for consultation among actors in the sector who 
will be given managerial autonomy, in close coopera tion with the technical services of the Ministry of 
Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries. 
VII. DURATION OF THE PROJECT 
11. The project is expected to last five years, following which the AIC and the producers' 
organizations will take over. 
VIII.  COST OF THE PROJECT 
12. The cost of the project is CFAF 4.84 billion. 
 
Costs (CFAF millions) No. Activity 
Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Year 5 Total 
1 Studies 80 40 40   160 
2 Construction of warehouses  400 400 400 200 1,400 
3 Equipment for producers  500 500 500 300 1,800 
4 Purchase of vehicles (5) 75 0 0 75 0 150 
5 Purchase of motorcycles (30) 30 0 0 30 0 60 
6 Wages, grants, allowances and travel 
costs for project leaders (30) 60 60 60 60 60 300 
7 Follow-up and internal and external 
evaluation 30 30 20 20 60 160 
8 Audit  15 15 15 15 60 
9 General operation and coordination 150 150 150 150 150 750 
 Total 425 1,195 1,185 1250 785 4,840 
 
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