Food prices: The worst is yet to come

Food prices are likely to remain high in the coming months. Indeed, in this agricultural season 2021, the fertilizer, main input in production, cannot be found in sufficient quantity.

The issue of the availability of agricultural inputs has never been a topical issue in Benin as the authorities involved in the sector import them in sufficient quantities.. This has made Benin a self-sufficient country in many products such as maize which is one of the most consumed commodities.. It is also thanks to this effort that the country is ranked among the largest cotton producing nations in Africa..

More, This year 2021 the situation is changing. " This year, we can't find enough fertilizer for our fields ", complains Daniel, a student from Banikoara who produces cotton to finance his studies. Returned to his village in this season of fieldwork, he claims that some farmers have had to revise their harvest forecasts downwards. "Everyone manages as best they can to fertilize their fields and some have simply chosen to cultivate certain areas without fertilizer", he continues.

Only, on the reasons for this shortage, the currents do not seem to match. According to the student-farmer, officials have reportedly claimed that "the rate of fertilizer received this year exceeds that of last year" in this region, is 35.200 tons against 32.000 for the previous season ".

However, all over the country, the situation is the same. When this input is available, prices are rather revised upwards compared to previous years. If cotton seems rather spared, more food producers are complaining. So, a producer from Natitingou in Atacora complains about the price. To fertilize his cornfield, he has to spend more than last year and, according to him, some farmers don't even find the right fertilizer even when they have the money.

This situation does not bode well for the housewife's basket. Already this year the prices of basic necessities have reached unprecedented levels. So, the gari is spent less than 200 francs to 600 francs before starting a slight decrease. The corn, the bean, among others, also reached record highs. If production conditions are not the best and input prices are inflated, we will have to expect that this increase will have repercussions on the finished products.

Unless urgent arrangements are made to curb the fate.

Damien TOLOMISSI