Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09COTONOU512
2009-10-26 10:56:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Cotonou
Cable title:
BENIN: PARTNERING FOR GLOBAL HUNGER AND FOOD SECURITY
how-toVZCZCXRO0303 RR RUEHRN DE RUEHCO #0512 2991056 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 261056Z OCT 09 FM AMEMBASSY COTONOU TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1161 RUEHRN/USMISSION UN ROME
UNCLAS COTONOU 000512
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EEB/TPP/MTAA/ABT ANN RYAN AND MARISA PLOWDEN
OFFICE OF THE COUNSELOR, IO ROBERT HAGEN, JOHN TUMINARO
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAGR EAID ETRD BN
SUBJECT: BENIN: PARTNERING FOR GLOBAL HUNGER AND FOOD SECURITY
ACTION REQUEST
REF: STATE 107298
UNCLAS COTONOU 000512
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EEB/TPP/MTAA/ABT ANN RYAN AND MARISA PLOWDEN
OFFICE OF THE COUNSELOR, IO ROBERT HAGEN, JOHN TUMINARO
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAGR EAID ETRD BN
SUBJECT: BENIN: PARTNERING FOR GLOBAL HUNGER AND FOOD SECURITY
ACTION REQUEST
REF: STATE 107298
1. Poloff delivered points reftel to Ambassador Adoumasse, Director
for International Organizations at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
He said that the GOB supported the proposal. He will be attending
the meeting in Rome with the Minister of Agriculture and two
directors from that ministry. The GOB will use this opportunity to
ask the international community for help. Adoumasse noted that the
problem of food security is cyclical in Benin. Cotton is the cash
crop and when the price for cotton is high, farmers buy food.
However when the price for cotton drops, they are unable to purchase
food. Growing food crops along with cotton would be a start to food
security for farmers in the north of Benin.
2. The GOB would like to intensify agriculture by mechanizing the
process, irrigating the fields and receiving FAO technical support.
Expanding on the subject of irrigation, Adoumasse noted that current
farming practice consisted of farmers sowing and then waiting for
rain. He said that the current "short rainy season" had not brought
enough water. The "long rainy season" had caused flooding. Benin has
no program to manage flood waters and is subject to crop loss about
half the time.
KNIGHT
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EEB/TPP/MTAA/ABT ANN RYAN AND MARISA PLOWDEN
OFFICE OF THE COUNSELOR, IO ROBERT HAGEN, JOHN TUMINARO
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAGR EAID ETRD BN
SUBJECT: BENIN: PARTNERING FOR GLOBAL HUNGER AND FOOD SECURITY
ACTION REQUEST
REF: STATE 107298
1. Poloff delivered points reftel to Ambassador Adoumasse, Director
for International Organizations at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
He said that the GOB supported the proposal. He will be attending
the meeting in Rome with the Minister of Agriculture and two
directors from that ministry. The GOB will use this opportunity to
ask the international community for help. Adoumasse noted that the
problem of food security is cyclical in Benin. Cotton is the cash
crop and when the price for cotton is high, farmers buy food.
However when the price for cotton drops, they are unable to purchase
food. Growing food crops along with cotton would be a start to food
security for farmers in the north of Benin.
2. The GOB would like to intensify agriculture by mechanizing the
process, irrigating the fields and receiving FAO technical support.
Expanding on the subject of irrigation, Adoumasse noted that current
farming practice consisted of farmers sowing and then waiting for
rain. He said that the current "short rainy season" had not brought
enough water. The "long rainy season" had caused flooding. Benin has
no program to manage flood waters and is subject to crop loss about
half the time.
KNIGHT