IllustrativeBenin Rice Investment Plan
Benin · NationwideCrop production · Rice
A national plan to close Benin's rice gap, developing 3,500 ha of irrigated lowland, six mini-mills with 12 tonnes an hour of capacity and 80 upgraded parboiling units, in a USD 79.33m programme with private and PPP tranches open to investors.
Rationale
Local output covers only about half of Benin's consumption of some 700,000 tonnes of rice a year, and Benin was the largest importer of Indian rice in 2024.¹ Yields are 3.7 t/ha against a 7 t/ha potential, and only 60,000 of 300,000 irrigable hectares are developed.
- Lowland
- 3,500 ha of irrigated lowland
- Milling
- Six 2 t/h mini-mills, 12 t/h in total
- Parboiling
- 80 upgraded parboiling units
- Storage
- 17 warehouses of 500 t
Investment opportunity
Transaction structure
Private and PPP tranches of a national rice plan, alongside a USD 52.3m public tranche.
Use of funds
Six 2 t/h mini-mills, 80 upgraded parboiling units, 17 warehouses of 500 t and a guarantee fund.
Revenue basis
Milled and parboiled local rice for domestic, institutional and regional buyers, including Nigeria.
The ask
Equity and debt for mills, parboiling and storage, and PPP partners for an 800m FCFA guarantee fund and credit lines.
Why it is bankable
Local output covers about half of national consumption of some 700,000 tonnes a year; Benin was the largest importer of Indian rice in 2024.¹
Yields of 3.7 t/ha against a 7 t/ha potential; only 60,000 of 300,000 irrigable hectares are developed.
A USD 52.3m public tranche, including the national P2DCV-Riz programme, funds irrigation, certified seed and mechanisation.
Offtake partnerships with wholesalers, the regional market including Nigeria, and institutional buyers such as school canteens.
Data and evidence · Benin paddy rice: today vs 2030 target
| National, 2024 | National target, 2030 | |
|---|---|---|
| Paddy production | 500,605 tonnes | 1,000,000 tonnes |
| Market value | USD 163.8m | USD 327.3m |
| Yield | 3.7 t/ha | Potential 7 t/ha with AWD and certified seed |
| Irrigation | 60,000 of 300,000 irrigable ha developed | Plus 3,500 ha of irrigated lowland |
Project readiness and timeline
- OriginationGreenfield
- FeasibilityCurrent stage
- StructuringTo follow
- Financial closePost-diligence
- ConstructionTo follow
Key risks and mitigants
Not yet contracted; partnerships with wholesalers, regional buyers including Nigeria and school canteens are being developed.
Mills depend on producer output; the public tranche funds irrigation, certified seed, mechanisation kits and advice to 13,000 producers.
An 800m FCFA guarantee fund is designed to unlock USD 10–15m of farm credit, with credit lines through FNDA and microfinance.
Transaction terms
- Offtaker
- Domestic market, with Nigeria named as a regional offtake market
- Contract status
- Not contracted
- Instrument sought
- Blended: equity and debt
- Structure
- Public, private and PPP tranches within a national value-chain plan
- Technology
- Irrigated lowland rice, with 12 t/h of milling capacity
- Location
- Benin; site under NDA
- WAIIS pillar
- Agribusiness & Food Systems
Development impact
Livelihoods
21,300 direct beneficiaries, including 13,000 producers, and 82,360 indirect.¹
Incomes
Average income per inhabitant projected to rise by about 20% over the plan.¹
Climate
Net emissions estimated at minus 3,500 tCO2e a year, with water-saving irrigation and resilient varieties.¹