France-Benin/New cooperation with Benin, "to go further
The Department and the community of communes of Zou are consolidating their partnership, which is dedicated to developing the food sector and improving agricultural incomes in a sustainable manner.
This was the highlight of the visit of a Beninese delegation to the Hauts-de-Seine. The signing of the second decentralized cooperation agreement, linking the Department to the community of municipalities of Zou, formalized the strengthening of the ties of friendship and mutual enrichment between the two communities.
" This cooperation agreement has enabled the two territories to cooperate in favor of the social and solidarity development of Zou, within the framework of sustainable agricultural activities and to intensify the cooperation between the two communities. s sustainable agricultural activities and to intensify relations between our two territories," said Amoussou Auguste Aïhunhin, president of the community of municipalities.
Initiated in 2018, the international cooperation program with Benin has seized four major development issues for the country: combating food insecurity, increasing the income of small producers, developing market-connected agricultural entrepreneurship and protecting the environment.
Sustainable investments
A total of €2.8 million has been invested in the region, helping more than 450 farms and training more than 30 solidarity entrepreneurs, with a view to increasing the market value of livestock and soybean production. The actions carried out aim to improve local financing mechanisms and to support short circuits, which are beneficial to producers, processors and consumers.
This partnership has also made it possible to disseminate agro-ecological practices to ensure land regeneration and sustainable agricultural production," explains President Georges Siffredi. In a logic of sustainable development, the environmental imperative has led us to participate in complementary investments in solar energy."
The renewal of this development partnership, while continuing the steps already initiated, should make it possible to optimize waste management, through the construction of suitable infrastructures and the exchange of know-how. This last commitment will resonate with the densification of the local university network, promoting innovation and improving the agronomic training of all stakeholders.
Source: www.hauts-de-seine.fr
