The Béninese government has declared a resolute objective: to achieve a production target of 100,000 tonnes of poultry products by 2033. This ambitious goal was articulated during the opening of the first Poultry Expo in Cotonou. Confronted with a substantial structural deficit of 80,000 tonnes, currently satisfied through extensive imports, the challenge extends far beyond mere food security; it carries significant macroeconomic implications. This national strategy aims to transform a persistent outflow of capital into powerful engines of local growth.

On Thursday, June 25, 2026, the Palais des Congrès in Cotonou transformed into a command center for economic reassertion. By inaugurating the first edition of the Poultry Expo, Béninese authorities did more than just launch a trade fair; they laid the foundational stone for a crucial productive recovery plan.

The initial assessment, broadly acknowledged by all stakeholders in the sector, reveals two striking figures: 100,000 and 20,000. Annually, Béninese consumers consume at least 100,000 tonnes of poultry meat and eggs. However, local producers manage to supply only 20,000 tonnes. This 80,000-tonne gap represents not merely a logistical hurdle, but a severe financial drain.

the financial imperative: stemming an unsustainable currency outflow

For Bénin, importing four-fifths of its poultry consumption means billions of CFA francs are injected into external economic circuits each year. In an era marked by volatile global prices and strained supply chains, this dependency creates a macroeconomic vulnerability that the state is now determined to eliminate.

Speaking on behalf of the President of the Republic, Romuald Wadagni, the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, and Fisheries, Adin Yeton Bloukounon Goubalan, was unequivocally direct in his opening address. The primary objective of this initiative is to retain these vital funds within the national territory. By relocating production, the government not only seeks to feed its populace but also to fundamentally restructure the nation’s trade balance. Every tonne of chicken produced in Bénin represents a victory against capital flight and a direct investment into the local industrial fabric.

horizon 2033: pillars of the “Bénin vert” plan

This comprehensive poultry offensive is an integral part of a long-term roadmap: the Vision Bénin Vert 2033. This program elevates “protein sovereignty” to the status of a national security imperative. To reverse the current trend in less than a decade, the executive branch recognizes that it cannot act in isolation.

The strategy hinges on vertical integration of the sector, realized through a large-scale alliance. The state intends to serve as a facilitator and regulator, but success will ultimately depend on the commitment of private investors and financial institutions, which have often been hesitant to fund the agricultural sector.

The Minister emphasized a holistic approach, stating: « The future of our aviculture will depend on our collective capacity to produce more, to process more, and to create more value within our territory. »

Beyond the major financial balances, the anticipated return on investment is profoundly social. The expansion of hatcheries, livestock feed manufacturing plants, and modern processing centers is seen as a significant source of employment, primarily targeting youth and women, who are crucial pillars of the rural and peri-urban economy.

a unified sector around its interprofessional body

The success of this comprehensive plan for Béninese poultry will largely depend on the alignment of field actors. This is the very essence of the expo, initiated by the Interprofession Avicole du Bénin (IAB). For the first time, the entire value chain—producers, feed manufacturers, veterinarians, distributors, and researchers—was brought together in one venue.

For Léon Anago, president of the interprofessional organization, this expo must serve as a catalyst. The aim is to transform previously fragmented initiatives into a structured sector, capable of reassuring banks and attracting capital. The challenge is to demonstrate that Béninese aviculture is no longer a subsistence sector but a highly profitable market and a major economic growth driver for the country.

the Cotonou-Rabat axis: a lever for expertise transfer

To accelerate this technical and commercial upgrade, Bénin is leveraging South-South partnerships, notably with Morocco. The Fédération Interprofessionnelle du Secteur Avicole du Maroc (FISA) provided crucial technical and logistical support for the organization of the event.

The presence in Cotonou of Ahmed El Bouari, the Moroccan Minister of Agriculture, Maritime Fisheries, Rural Development, and Water and Forests, underscores the political significance of this collaboration. Morocco, having successfully modernized its own poultry sector over recent decades, positions itself as a strategic, leading partner.

Addressing the assembly of Béninese professionals, the Moroccan minister commended the structural reforms undertaken by Cotonou. In his view, this cooperation transcends simple diplomatic relations, laying the groundwork for shared prosperity and expanded food sovereignty across the African continent.

towards a new model of african resilience

As the initial working sessions concluded, a clear consensus emerged: Bénin’s struggle for protein self-sufficiency mirrors a broader continental challenge. By striving to produce what it consumes, the nation endeavors to escape the pitfalls of import dependency.

The task ahead is monumental, and the countdown to 2033 has begun. To increase production from 20,000 to 100,000 tonnes, the Béninese poultry sector must quintuple its output in just seven years. This ambitious quantitative and qualitative leap, if successful, will demonstrate that rigorous agricultural policy management can become a developing nation’s most effective macroeconomic shield.