Benin, formerly known as the Republic of Dahomey, is a country in West Africa. Shaped like a key, the country is long and narrow and is bordered by four countries; Togo, Burkina Faso, Nigeria and Niger. Benin produces robusta coffee, albeit on a very small scale. Although production has never been at a level of any global significance, overall production has declined steeply in recent decades and there is limited information about the country’s coffee sector and producing regions.
Benin Coffee Growing History
During the colonial period, agricultural research stations were established within the French-ruled countries of West Africa, including Benin, then known as Dahomey. Across Benin, these research stations were established in places such as Porto-Novo, Niaouli and Abomey. There, researchers and agronomists carried out research into crops with the aim of promoting agricultural development and generating revenue for the Protectorate through the production of crops for export. According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Robusta coffee was introduced to Benin and first cultivated at a research station in 1930. Alternative reports suggest the plant was introduced several years earlier, around 1923.
There is limited information available about the subsequent expansion of coffee production within Benin. A 1963 World Trade organisation report on the coffee trade combined Benin’s coffee production and exports with those of the Ivory Coast. As such, there is no way of knowing how much coffee Benin was producing and exporting at the time. A further trade report, written for the US Congress in 1970, lists Benin as a coffee producer. Whilst the amount of coffee exported is not mentioned, Benin’s coffee exports amounted to a mere $274,000, indicating that the country has never produced coffee on a notable scale.
Benin was a member of OAMCAF, or the African and Malagasy Coffee Organization, prior to the organisation’s dissolution. OAMCAF was established in 1960 and was a strategic alliance of primarily robusta producing countries. Led by consular officials from the Ivory Coast, OAMCAF countries had a permanent seat at the International Coffee Organiation’s Executive Committee through the group’s membership. Whilst Benin has been a signatory of various International Coffee Agreements, it is not currently a member of the International Coffee Organisation as it has not completed all the required procedures.
Benin Coffee Farming
Agriculture is the mainstay of Benin’s economy, supporting more than 70% of the population and constituting 30% of the country’s GDP. Despite its importance, most people working in agriculture are subsistence farmers who grow cereals and tubers, such as yam and manioc, on small family plots. Whilst average landholdings are around 1.7 hectares, this is a general figure for agriculture and is not specific to coffee production. A figure specific to coffee production is unavailable, likely owing to the relatively small size of the coffee sector and there appears to be little to no information about coffee farming practices .
Benin has a tropical climate and is hot and humid year-round. Benin also sees less rainfall than other areas at the same latitude, with annual rainfall totalling around 1150mm. Whilst robusta coffee can withstand these hotter, harsher conditions, Benin is extremely vulnerable to climate change and extreme weather events. Severe drought in the 1970s and 1980s as well as severe floods in the 2000s, and most recently in 2021, caused major crop losses across the country. Future predicted temperature rises and the increased likelihood of extreme weather events will no doubt have a negative impact on the country’s already limited coffee production and the suitability of further expansion of the crop.
For many decades, palm kernels were Benin’s most important cash crop. Nowadays, cotton is the country’s most significant cash crop, representing around 40% of total exports. Other cash crops include cashew nuts, shea nuts and palm products. Historical references have been made to coffee in lists of Benin’s cash crops but they have always been on a small scale.
Benin Coffee Production Regions
Benin’s terrain is primarily flat with some rolling plains and hills to the south. There are also some low lying mountains. The highest point, Mont Sokbaro stands at 658m and is located in the west near the border with Togo. Average elevations, however, are around 200m. When taking into consideration the high elevations required for the growth of Arabica, Benin’s low elevations explain why Robusta is the primary coffee varietal grown in the country. Most coffee is grown in the south.
Benin Coffee Types and Varietals
Robusta, scientifically known as Coffea Canephora, is the coffee varietal cultivated in Benin. There are many cultivars of Coffea Canephora and they are often identified in coffee-producing regions with local names, usually related to the country of origin. In the case of Benin, and neighbouring Togo, the cultivar is commonly known as Niaouli.
Benin Coffee Harvest Date
There is limited information about current coffee production in Benin. The International Coffee Organisation, however, states that Benin’s coffee harvest takes place between November and February.
Benin Coffee Annual Production
Benin does not feature in the International Coffee Organisation’s global coffee production statistics, presumably because its overall production is too low to be of any significance. Data from the Food and Agriculture Organisation shows that the country’s output has varied significantly over the last five decades and that production has been on a steep decline. In the early 1970s, Benin produced around 2000 tonnes, or around 33,000 bags of coffee. In the early 2000s, production had fallen drastically to around 150 tonnes, or 2500 bags. The data also puts Benin’s annual coffee production at just 50 tonnes, or around 830 60kg bags. This is similar to information available on the ICO website, which estimates total production to be around 1000 bags annually.
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