Forest and agricultural resources of Dahomey, West Africa

Abstract

Dahomey gained its autonomy in 1960. The abrupt changeover from the status of a colony to that of an independent nation naturally created problems and difficulties, affecting, in particular, the country's agricultural pattemn. Dahomey's revenue has always been based almost entirely on the export of agricultural crops, especially palm kernels and palm oil (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.), peanuts, and karite or shea-nuts (Butyrospermum parkii Kotschy). During the past 8 years the total volume of imported foodstuffs, chiefly rice and cane sugar, has exceeded the value of exports, fluctuating each year between $10 and 20 millions (U.S.). To counteract this unfavorable trade balance, the immediate need of this developing country is the expansion of industrial or cash crops for export. Dahomey's current five-year plan, which started in 1966, gives high priority to the development of plantings of oil palm, cotton and peanut, rice and sugar production, the continuation of forestry and livestock development, and an increased production of food crops for domestic needs. Other projects being developed, or under consideration, are agriculture extension and education, animal husbandry, rinderpest eradication, promotion of the use of fertilizers and pesticides, improvement of agricultural cooperatives, and the establishment of pilot villages. In response to Dahomey's request for assistance in evaluating and developing its agricultural program, the United States Agency for International Development (AID) approached the International Agricultural Development Service (IADS) of the Department of Agriculture to make a survey of the country's agricultural sector. The team of five specialists, including the author,