These 3 projects are closely related. PAHA is being co-financed by the Belgian Survival Fund (Fonds belge de Survie); ROPAHA and FAPAHA by the European Commission. ROPAHA is coming to an end, FAPAHA was launched in early 2010.

The programme aims to carry out water management works for agriculture (PAHA) and to strengthen the producer’s Unions (ROPAHA) in the departments Mono / Couffo en Atacora / Donga.

Key elements

• Raising knowledge of the application and management of water for agricultural purposes.
• Rice and vegetable growing.
• Small works developing the infrastructure and education in use and management.
• Distribution of small farming equipment.
• Find synergies with other actors active in the agricultural chain.
• Reinforcing of the actors involved.
• Distribution of acquired knowledge and experience.
  

Partners

• Union Départementale des Producteurs (UDP) (Departmental Union of Producers) and Unions Communales des Producteurs (UCP) (Municipal Unions of Producers).
• Cellule Bas-fonds (watery low-lands cell),  CeRPA (Centre Régionale pour la Production Agricole= Regional Centers for the Agricultural Production) of Mono / Couffo en Atacora / Donga, the municipalities and a number of local NGOs.
  

Target Group

About 35.000 individuals spread over 12 municipalities (8 municipalities in Mono / Couffo in the South of Benin and 4 municipalities in Atacora / Donga, northern Benin). Benin counts 77 municipalities with each at least 20 to 30 villages. Through the construction and good maintenance of irrigation infrastructure, the programme will support approximately 80 rice and vegetable farming locations in the Southern departments Mono and Couffo. In northern Benin, the programme targets 30 villages. The sites are located in wet, marshy valleys in the vicinity of permanent water sources and are suitable for irrigation. For each location, up to 30 families can be included for participation in the improved agricultural production. The geographical spread per department is:

Mono: 4 municipalities: Bopa, Grand-Popo; Lokossa, Houeyogbe.
Couffo: 4 municipalities: Dogbo, Aplahoué, Klouékanme and Lalo.
Atacora: 3 municipalities: Matéri, Tanguiéta, Péhunco.
Donga: 1 municipality: Djougou.

Objectives

• The production and revenues from agriculture in the low laying watery regions in Mono / Couffo and Donga / Atacora have been raised and diversified in a sustainable way.
• The capacities of the unions of producers and their supporting actors are reinforced in the field of integrated, sustainable and fair revaluation of water resources and agriculture products.
  

Main results

• The information necessary for a good understanding and management of the water supplies for agriculture is gathered, analyzed and followed-up.
• The investments on sites with a high potential for irrigated agriculture led to a sustainable exploitation.
• The crops in the sites with improved water management are diversified and fruitful and provide an income, also by limiting the post-harvest losses, better handling and marketing.
• The different actors are able to take up their specific roles with respect to water management for agriculture.
• The knowledge of water management works for agriculture has grown and additional experience is gained and being spread nationally.
  

Financing

BOF/BFS, European Commission, 11.11.11, the municipality Evere, Gilles Foundation, VIA-fund and Keppel Seghers.