Benin/Agricultural Insurance: 561.8 million CFA francs to protect farmers from climate-related risks

In response to the growing impact of climate change on farms, the Beninese government is strengthening its measures to protect farmers. On Friday, August 7, 2026, in Cotonou, 561.8 million CFA francs in compensation were allocated to rice and cotton farmers affected by yield losses during the 2025–2026 growing season. This concrete response confirms the growing importance of agricultural insurance in Benin.

Benin continues to build an agricultural sector that is better equipped to cope with climate risks. The Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, and Fisheries, Mr. Adin Yeton BLOKOUNON GOUBALAN, officially presented compensation checks on Friday, August 7, 2026, in Cotonou to farmers affected by yield losses. This initiative is part of the pilot phase of the project to integrate multi-risk index-based agricultural insurance, launched in 2024 by the government with the support of its partners. The program aims to strengthen the resilience of 100,000 farmers and livestock raisers across the twelve departments, particularly in the rice, cotton, and livestock sectors.

Nearly 95,000 farmers covered

For the 2025–2026 agricultural season, 94,905 rice and cotton farmers received insurance coverage, thanks in particular to a subsidy covering 80% of the premiums. The total amount of compensation reached 561.8 million CFA francs, broken down into 376.8 million CFA francs for rice farmers and 185 million CFA francs for cotton farmers. For Mr. Alfred KPEMAVO, representative of the insurers, this compensation marks the culmination of a process aimed at better protecting farmers and sustainably supporting their productivity.

The initiative also benefits from the support of partners. Ms. Stéphanie GUHA, Deputy Head of Swiss Cooperation in Benin, called for making the financial inclusion of women and youth a priority of the program. On the beneficiaries’ side, Mr. Ganni Badou TAMOU, president of the National Federation of Village Cooperatives of Cotton Producers (FN-CVPC), praised an initiative that makes financial protection more accessible to smallholder farmers. Convinced of the mechanism’s effectiveness, he invited producers from other sectors to join the agricultural insurance program.

Securing Investments and Livelihoods

For Minister Adin Yeton BLOKOUNON GOUBALAN, the issue goes beyond simply compensating for losses. Agricultural insurance is “a means of securing investments, preserving livelihoods, and contributing sustainably to Benin’s food security.” The Minister also highlighted several challenges that must be addressed to transform the sector: water management, access to land, the availability of high-performance inputs at affordable prices, and financing for farms. The goal is, in particular, to gradually reduce Benin’s agriculture’s heavy reliance on rainfall and to create better conditions for young farmers to establish themselves and produce crops.

Aiming for 122,000 producers by 2026–2027

Following the results achieved during the pilot phase, the government now intends to scale up the program. Through the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, and Fisheries and the National Agricultural Development Fund (FNDA), the program is expected to benefit 122,000 producers during the 2026–2027 agricultural season. This marks a new step in the government’s commitment to making agricultural insurance a genuine tool for securing farms and building, over the long term, a more resilient, productive, and better-prepared agricultural sector capable of meeting climate challenges.

Source: www.gouv.bj/