Introduction: City context

Capital of Benin, the city of Porto Novo has a surface area of 52,5 km2 or equivalent to 0,05 % of the national territory. Porto Novo is situated in South Benin at 32 km of Cotonou and is divided in 5 departments (“arrondissements”) and 86 neighbourhoods.
The climate is characterised by a subequatorial humid climate with 2 dry and 2 wet seasons per year.

The population of Porto Novo comprises 223.552 inhabitants with 52% (RGPH, 2002). The annual growth rate is 2,4% with a density of 1985 inhabitants/km2. The city’s economy is based on informal commercial activities (around 90%), horticulture, fisheries, handicrafts and small-scale processing activities.

Most important types of urban agriculture in the city

Around 13% of the population in Porto Novo is involved in agricultural production. The Agricultural Plan (2004-2005) registered 2976 enterprises and 1332 farming households. Agricultural production involves vegetable production, livestock production and aquaculture.
Vegetable production comprises around 710 ha. or 14% of the total surface area of the city and includes horticulture and nursery production. Animal production is mostly practiced in an extensive way, while fisheries are mostly practiced in the lagoon.  Over 70% of farmers involved in horticulture production, and processing and marketing of agricultural produce are women. Many women are organized in groups receiving technical support from the state, the municipality and support organizations, specifically supporting small agro-enterprises processing maize, cassava, tomatoes and fruits.

Multi-stakeholder Policymaking and Action planning on urban agriculture (MPAP) on urban agriculture in Porto Novo

Currently in Porto Novo a situation analysis on urban agriculture is being implemented by the local project team. A stakeholder analysis showed the presence of various institutional actors involved in urban agriculture, including the Municipality, the national Ministries of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, the Ministry of Environment, the Ministry of Planning, the National Agricultural Research institute in Benin (INRAB), ONGs and international organizations. A participatory appraisal of urban farming systems and the direct actors involved (farmers, processors, vendors and input-suppliers) is still ongoing, parallel to an analysis of urban agriculture land use and a review of the current legal and policy framework.
Initial assets and constraints for further development of urban agriculture in Porto Novo are being identified, such as:

Assets:

• Existance of water plans for the promotion of agriculture;
• Existence of lower-lying marshy lands where fisheries could be promoted;
• Presence of technical support services for the promotion of urban agriculture (training centra, extension services);
• Presence of several large markets; 
• Municipal initiatives to support horticulture development in Porto Novo, provide technical and financial services to women groups and support to small-scale fisheries. 

Constraints:

• Lack of cultivable land and insecurity of tenure;
• Lack of equipment for processing activities as well as conservation methods for preservation of vegetable and fish products;
• Lack of access to inputs and credit;
• High rates of animal diseases and mortality.

Information collected in the situation analysis will be shared with a large group of stakeholders and serve as a basis for action planning and policy design on urban agriculture to take place in 2008.

Linkages to regional websites, key documents, photos, maps etc.

For more information on the RUAF-Cities Farming for the Future Programme in the region, contact the regional coordinator at RUAF West-Africa (Francophone) or see their website.

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