By Maryse ASSOGBADJO,

Women farmers in  Toviklin, in the couffo department, are also suffering the adverse effects of Covid-19. Arduous work, rising transport costs , disruption of the seasons, the situation on the ground is very critical but manageable with regard to response measures  . While waiting for the pandemic to be contained, they are developing strategies to withstand the shock.

Hlassamè, Lalo, a commune in the department of Lalo Thursday morning in the bean field of  Mélanie Sossa, a farmer experienced in the tche. We must be careful not to destroy the few  crops spared by the hazards. The plantations of this lady, in her fifties , stretch as far as  the eye can see, but the amount of tares exceeds the good grains.

On the verge of despair, this slender woman of black complexion, medium height, does not admit defeat. She continues  to work the land in this locality located about 140 km from Cotonou, in order  to satisfy, like  her farming pairs, the food needs of about 70% of the population. In a pandemic tale  , this task is not easy. Covid-19 dictates its law in the fields.

"Our harvests this year are not good. Out of a hundred thousand F Cfa of profit in the past, we make barely forty thousand now, "she laments.

The work of farmers in the field has been very  disruptive. "Before, we used to go to the field in groups. Today, when the number exceeds a certain number, there are no more  volunteers because farmers want to avoid consolidation. Out of a workforce of twenty-five people at the beginning, it is hardly di who agree to go to the field currently, "she laments.

These difficulties are felt on the finances of peasant women. "Last year, at this time, we already had an idea of the benefits from the harvests. So far, our products are still stored and waiting for buyers," says Mélanie.

According to farmers, the Covid-19 crisis does not spare any sector, even if some seem to be more shaken than others.

Juliette Oké, a farmer in Toviklin, Couffo, tries  to describe the impact of the crisis on harvests: "The bean has been the most shaken, not only because of the health crisis, but also because of the scarcity of rains. This is followed by sweet potato and cotton."

To this list, Jacques Nagonou, president of the Communal Union of Cooperatives of Processors of Cassava into Gari and its Derivatives of the Municipality of Toviklin, adds another category of food products such as maize, tomato and cassava.

"We have enormous difficulties selling our products. Burkinabés residing in Benin, as well as Nigeriens who are our first customers are reluctant. Orders have fallen by  half," he complains.

Customers are desired. "It is only the Beninese who buy our products. Customers from the sub-region come in dribs and drabs. The goods that we once deliver at three hundred thousand F Cfa are hardly sold at one hundred and twenty thousand since the advent of the coronavirus disease, "says Juliette Oké, before  continuing: "We are approaching the bean season. Our own products are likely to remain on our hands."

The misfortune of some making the happiness of others, the financial crisis induced by the global health crisis reinforces speculation. "The ploughmen have doubled the pri of the workforce. This situation confuses us," complains Eloïse Ghossou, a farmer and former elected councillor at the Toviklin town hall  .

She fears the consequences of Covid-19. "Covid is not inevitable. This is a reality that scares me. Life is paramount and everyone must take barrier gestures seriously. Even after the crisis, hygiene rules must be maintained to safeguard our health. Local production depends on  our well-being," she raises awareness.

According to Abel Gbètoénonmon, economist and coordinator of "Africa Performance", the impact of the health crisis varies depending on whether one is in agricultural production, in the processing of agri-food products or in marketing. "In a logic of  the added value chain,  we can understand a number of impacts at the level of production in relation to women farmers,  agri-food processing and  marketing," he explains.

The collateral effects of the disease are being felt on women farmers, resulting in reduced funding. "With this disease, many  support programmes for women have been suspended. Many of the partners who were working alongside them stopped their interventions. The same is true of volunteers who have retreated to their countries for fear of contamination of the disease," he notes.

He notes a decline in demand for agricultural products as well as in  the incomes of populations whose supply possibilities have also decreased: "At the same time as access to inputs and credits has experienced difficulties, the markets no longer had enough  demands, as people's incomes fell. They need to have  income to get their supplies from the agricultural market."

Women, being obliged to ensure the survival of the household and the profitability of their economic activities, found themselves in unprecedented financial difficulties. "Those who took out credit from microfinance  structures  were unable  to repay As their debts were also added, as the markets did not have the required demand, there was a lack of sales of products. Women have found themselves in a situation of impoverishment more accentuated than before, "says the economist.

According to him, women farmers who are victims of the negative impacts of the health crisis are also not to be cleared. The momentum at work has waned within them. "The fear of Covid-19 has developed in some, behaviors harmful to the production and the activity of women farmers in general," he explains.

Losses

Seven months after the outbreak of the virus in Benin, the pain of women farmers is increasing. "When you lack strength in front of the enemy, he defeats you. This is what is happening to us in the face of Covid-19. The lack of financial means forces us to accept the ridiculous prisoires offered to us by customers in order  to meet our needs, "laments Eloïse Ghossou.

The situation has led to a lack of sales, hiding women producers in debt. Jacques Nagonou, president of the Communal Union of Cooperatives of Processors of Cassava into Gari and its Derivatives of the municipality of Toviklin, estimates at 25%, the decrease that agricultural production has suffered this year in the rank of farmers of the commune, due to the health crisis.

"Covid-19 is not good for any sector. Women farmers are doubly affected, because they are the ones who produce most of the products we consume. They have taken a step back in their activities, "laments Françoise Agbaholou, coordinator of the Wildaf-Benin network, on a web television of the place.

The transport sector is no less spared. "The value of transport is increasing while that of selling products is falling on the market. We give them to vils pri, for lack of customers. We are investing more in agricultural production while our profits are falling," adds Mélanie Sossa.

In reality, export remains the best means of disposing of agricultural products, regardless of the number of hectares cultivated.

"The movement of people has decreased. Traders from  Cotonou, Lomé and  the sub-region are rare," says Eloïse Ghossou.

Growers, farmers and customers no longer know which saint to devote themselves to.

"These are women who generally opt for public  transport, but the measures enacted as part of the fight against the coronavirus do not allow more than  three people per vehicle. This has impacted the cost of transport," he explains.

Regarding the closure of borders, the confinement in some countries, the quarantine in other localities or the cordon sanitaire in Benin, the economist notes the impacts on women farmers at the same level.

First, he explains, "these measures have prevented the free movement of people and goods within the sub-region and within countries and have affected the flow of agricultural products. This has had an impact on the needs and incomes of producers and farmers."

Secondly, he insists on the impact of States' measures: "Support for transport and the facilities granted to women in this field have decreased. Social distancing measures  have affected the cost of transporting agricultural products. This has greatly reduced the profit margin of women farmers."

According to the Food Crisis Prevention Network  (Rpca), measures to curb the spread of the virus (closure of non-essential businesses, closure or restriction of markets and limitation of mobility) are causing significant disruptions in the supply of markets,  loss of  income and  severe deterioration of the means of assistance of the most vulnerable populations.

The Rpca assesses the risks related to Covid-19 on farmers at three levels. The first relates to the collapse of agricultural food production due to difficulties in accessing the factors of production (agricultural inputs, credit and advice) and the dysfunction of collection, processing and distribution chains .  

The second concerns the increased dependence of the West African and Sahel region on International imports in the event of a lasting collapse of local food systems and a surge in the demand for imported foodstuffs in the event of major disruptions to the international market.

The Rpca analyses the third risk in terms of increased unemployment,  loss of income and purchasing power of households, particularly in  the informal economy, which have been hard hit by the limitation of mobility and the closure of markets.

resilience

Covid-19 remains a bone in the throats of peasants. "When you are in the informal sector like women farmers, and without insurance, without pay, without social protection, you fully feel the impacts of the pandemic," says Abel Gbètoénonmon, economist.

According to the Rpca, strategies for reviving and revitalizing agri-food systems, including non-agricultural segments (processing, collection, distribution), in both rural and  urban areas, should be anticipated and  designed now  .

For their part, women know that they must put in place a new dynamic in order to  preserve the next harvests.

"If there aren't enough  orders, there couldn't be enough  productions. The raw material is currently unavailable. But we are always looking for ways and means to bring back the products when there are orders, "says Jacques Nagonou, president of the Communal Union of Cooperatives of Processors of Cassava into Gari and its Derivatives of the municipality of Toviklin.

In order not to be overwhelmed, they  try to reduce their production in order to avoid losses. This Union, bringing together one thousand nine hundred and eighty-other members, also organizes periodic exchanges between the actors of the agricultural world in order to discuss solutions  to  end the crisis.

The coordinator of "Africa Performance" appreciates the efforts of women farmers to overcome the crisis: "They are developing a lot of resilience activities . They are, for the most part, forced  to make changes in activities."

But all these efforts do not yet  allow them to fill the gap created by the absence of their usual activity. They need to work on  diversifying their activities.

Covid-19 certainly, but hope is still allowed in the ranks of peasants. According to Louis Dayou, president of the Lalo subdivision  committee , the organization set up to deal with the crisis favors some producers, despite  the unavailability of the raw material. "The by-products of imported speculation have made spectacular progress. Cassava producers and its gari processors should welcome this," he hopes.

The dynamics that women farmers are developing present them with other challenges. As most women farmers are in the informal sector and do not have a status, they face difficulties  in developing resilient behaviours and attitudes  , Abel notes.

Gbètoénonmon.

Compliance with barrier measures and the multiplication of sanctions throughout the national territory are essential for Jacques Nagonou to save the agricultural sector in the grip of the pandemic.

This measure also seems sensible to  Louise Ayilara, president of the National Platform of Women Farmers of Benin, who insists on taking into account barrier measures and seeking  funding to raise awareness among rural populations about the pandemic.

Other actors are advocating for impact studies to be carried out by public authorities in order to assess the negative impacts of Covid-19 on vulnerable groups such as women and at the same time, target the accompanying measures to be put in place specifically in their favour.

Like artisans, producers are also waiting for financial support from the government. NGOs and development networks  seek the benevolence of the State for the benefit of this target.

"We implore the authorities at all levels. Women farmers are 90% illiterate. We ask the authorities  to go through the heads of districts, mayors and development associations  to help women reconstitute what they have lost and continue productions," said Léontine Konou Idohou, president of Rifonga, during a program on the difficulties of women farmers in this time of Covid-19.

Françoise Agbaholou, coordinator of Wildaf-Benin, also pleads the case of women: "We want the government to take appropriate measures to facilitate the production and also the sale of the products of these women by subsidizing the means of production such as inputs and production tools  . And make women's secure access to land a reality."

Among other solutions, the Food Crisis Prevention Network  recommends that African countries affected by the pandemic  update the 2020 response plans  , incorporating the consequences of the coronavirus pandemic  ; and  take proactive  monitoring measures and assistance for the 50 million  people under food pressure at risk of falling into crisis, as a result of the cumulative effects of the security and health crises.

The Caring Government

Since the registration of the first case of Covid-19 in Benin in March 2020, the virus has continued to spread its tentacles. While waiting for a vaccine, it is urgent for women farmers to find a way  out.

The Beninese government does not lose sight of the challenges to be met to relieve agricultural actors. This is evidenced by the numerous visits of Gaston Dossouhoui, Minister  of Agriculture, Livestock and  Fisheries (Maep), to producers to cheer them up and reassure them of the government's attention.  

Sensitive to the situation, the Executive has identified the most affected sectors through a digital platform in order  to help the actors. This is a big step. The agricultural sector will be able to experience better days through this measure.

It is worth recalling  that agriculture plays an important role in the Government's Programme of Action (Pag). To remove the bottlenecks that inhibit the sector, Benin has chosen to  create the National  Fund for Agricultural Development (Fnda). This fund is perceived as a major instrument for facilitating the financing of agricultural projects in order to  make  this sector the main lever for the country's economic development. Restructured in 2017, the Fnda has equipped itself with  resources to effectively carry out its mission of  promoting private investment in the agricultural sector.

But the year 2020 remains marked by the appearance of  the Covid-19 pandemic with its corollaries that strongly impact the daily lives of agricultural workers. Faced with the persistence of the crisis and in the context of the deployment of mitigation measures, the Council of Ministers, at its meeting of Wednesday, 29 July 2020, took a set of specific measures and incentives for the benefit of the agricultural sector at a total cost of one hundred billion euros.  F Cfa including fifty billion intended to refinance banks and decentralized financial companies on the basis of their portfolio of agricultural credits. Thirty-five billion  CFA francs intended to guarantee 50% of the loans of agricultural promoters and entrepreneurs and fifteen billion  CFA francs for the subsidy of the interest rates of the credits set up for the benefit of the beneficiaries.

On the occasion of the official ceremony of presentation of government measures to banks and decentralized financial companies, on September 8 in Cotonou, Gaston Dossouhoui, Minister  of Agriculture, Livestock and  Fisheries, welcomed the fact  that these measures give a new dimension to the FNDA, in particular at its window 3, "access to financial services" and constitute a first in the subregion.

With this level of contribution from the Fnda, the Beninese State clearly shows its willingness  to strengthen the intervention capacities of this public instrument in its role as a lever for private investment in the agricultural sector.