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Background information

Benin can be characterized by a free market economy. Key sectors are agriculture and regional trade, where especially cotton represents the cash crop as high prices support export earnings. Growth has averaged 6.5% recently. Nevertheless, the country remains underdeveloped. 

Agriculture is the backbone of the economy, accounting for one-third of GDP and exploiting about one-third of land area growing cotton, corn, cassava, yams and beans. Nonetheless, structural problems persist which negatively affect food security on the individual level and the trade balance on the public level. Benin is a net importer of rice, but the government is recently trying to boost its local rice production in order to increase its competitiveness.

Benin faces significant problems related to food security as access to protein and essential nutrients remains a challenge. Especially pregnant mothers and infants after weaning require basic nutrients, but price instability as well as harsh weather conditions pose a threat to access of certain foods. Both dry weather and flooding regularly isolate the rural population from markets and economic opportunities.