Consumption of products made in Benin : Compass for real development

The government multiplies, for a few years, initiatives to promote local products. The "local consumption" has become a strong appeal launched to each citizen of Benin for the development of the country on all fronts..

“It is difficult to convince the Beninese to adopt what is produced at home”, confides Félicien Hadégbé, promoter of a company manufacturing shoes made in Benin in Adjohoun. He says that at the start of his local production adventure he had enormous difficulty "getting customers given the competition with shoes".. He thus raises, the difficulty for promoters of local products to get by. More, he succeeded in reversing this trend. " After, people understood that they had to buy local shoes because of the quality and the affordable price. This allows me today to make ends meet and increase my production », did he know.

Shoe made in Benin

Selon Francois Ganhounso, Training company manager, it is urgent to give priority at all costs to local products, only guarantee for the safe and sustainable development of Benin. “Whoever buys a local product allows the producer to better flourish. Car, the latter will be able to provide for the needs of his family. And when his family is well, the society is better and the development of the nation becomes a reality”, he explains before adding "To achieve this, the Beninese consumer must refuse to give importance to exported products whose prices are also at the expense of those produced locally".

Local products

GDP increase factor

Local products are those from local businesses. Their consumption is the foundation of the Beninese economy. It is an integral part of the creation of wealth without resorting to external income. This will therefore contribute to the improvement of the general well-being of the populations..

The mass consumption of products made in Benin allows national companies to boost their turnover. For illustrative purposes, the intensive promotion of tchoukoutou (alcoholic beverage made from sorghum) prized in several localities in northern Benin called, according to agro-economist Emile Houngbo, to the increase in sorghum cultivation. He pursues : “Which would suddenly improve the income and working conditions of producers in this primary way”.

Local food and drink

He believes that "improving the conditions of Sorghum producers taking the case of tchoukoutou will induce increased investment in the factors of production of these two products". The teacher-researcher at the School of Agribusiness and Agricultural Policies (EAPA) National Agricultural University (A) points out that “cultivation techniques and storage technologies, conservation and processing of sorghum will improve quantitatively and qualitatively”.

Doctor Emile Houngbo indicates that the investments will make it possible to develop efficient and adapted production technologies to lead to an intensification of agro-industry.. The increase in investments will give rise to revenues capable of generating taxes and levies for the benefit of the State. The direct consequence is their contribution to the national budget for the construction of infrastructure of all kinds.. The same is true for farmers in general.. The large consumption of their products can also encourage them to scale up production to better supply our primary markets and beyond borders..

Liqueurs made in Benin

A response to unemployment

Giving priority to local products can to some extent reduce the unemployment rate within the country. This through the employment of a greater number of workers by local companies. "It also allows the companies producing its output to be able to stay on our territory for a long time and to participate longer in the animation of the economy of our country", specifies the manager of the training companies, Francois Ganhounso. A position supported by Nicolas Touko, farmer and president of the Agricultural Development Cooperative (CDA- NOUGNON). Based on his experience, he makes it known that the promotion of local products is a considerable response to the creation of jobs. “Local consumption is a determining factor in stimulating the local economy.. Everyone must understand that it is by consuming local products, that production will increase and throughout the chain (Production – Transformation – Commercialisation) jobs will be created, he remarks. “Local consumption contributes enormously to job creation, the emergence of innovation projects source of grassroots development, the animation of the local economic life because the money instead of being transferred abroad remains in the country. ».

More, to encourage Beninese to consume locally, the authorities at various levels must offer opportunities and facilities for local producers by allowing them, through support, to increase their production in order to cover the large consumer demand. What the government of President Patrice Talon is already doing through several initiatives, including the establishment of the "Month of local consumption" which has taken place throughout the month of October for three. A favorable opportunity not only for local business promoters to put their know-how in the face of the world throughout the territory but also to allow the public to discover Benin's genius in terms of local production..

Edmond HOUESSIKINDE