Benin bans export of RCN from 1st April 2024
Agriculture is the bedrock of economic and social development in Benin.
Indeed, the potential of Benin's economic growth largely depends on the agricultural sector, which today accounts for nearly 30% of GDP and employs 70% of the active population (World Bank data).
Cashew (Anacardium occidental L.) is a crop whose economic interest continues to grow in the world. The cashew nut sector is growing in importance in tropical countries, including Benin and ranks as the second export crop after cotton in the country. The sector is recognized as one of the high valued agricultural sectors which need to be developed because of its capacity to contribute to jobs and income creation, especially to the women and youth population, to food security and nutrition. Benin cashew sector is successful and its production has been experiencing an increase in the last decade to currently reach approximately 160,000 tonnes. The raw cashew nuts are sold quickly every year at high prices (US$ 1600/tonne as of April 2022) compared to competitors in West Africa. The cashew sector in Benin has important competitive advantages that enable the sale of RCN successfully every year. Benin RCN is of very good quality and the crop is available earlier than in many of the regional producers. The quality, kernel colour, taste and processing characteristics make Benin RCN the most favoured of the imported origins in India.
Historically the cashew sector in Benin has been lightly regulated, and for some time, the interest of regulators and politicians at the highest level has been in instituting a regulated cashew sector with a view to stimulating production, providing better rural incomes for farm families, and developing value-added activity. The regulation of the cashew sector is done through annual decrees that set the rules and guidelines for the operation of the sector in any given season. These are usually announced annually in March. The overriding framework for the development of agriculture applies also to the cashew sector and was established over time through legal instruments such as decrees and or executive orders that apply regulations and structures for all agricultural activity and some cashew specific aspects.
CURRENT UPDATE ON BENIN CASHEW POLICY ENVIRONMENT
Benin cashew season for the year 2022 was launched by the government on the 30th March 2022 under the decree No 2022-214 laying the conditions for the commercialization of the 2021-2022 cashew nuts season. The decree provides under Article 2, that the official date for the commencement of the season was 1st April 2022 and the closure is slated for 31st October 2022. The minimum farmgate price fixed under the decree was 350 FCFA (ie, US$ 0.61 with a rate of $1 / 570 FCFA)
However, the new development in the decree to take note of arises under Article 5 which states that ‘’As of April 1, 2024, the export of raw cashew nuts will be prohibited in the Republic of Benin.’’
Click on the link below to access the 
‘’DÉCRET N'2022-214 DU 30 MARS 2022" laying the conditions for the conduct of the 2021-2022 marketing campaign for cashew nuts.
