International Field Days in Benin

Benin was strategically selected as the host country to demonstrate how Rijk Zwaan varieties perform in tropical hot and wet climates. The location provided an ideal environment to showcase the adaptability and resilience of our varieties under conditions that reflect the realities of many West African growers.

Event Overview

The Field Days brought together producers, agronomists, partners, and stakeholders from across the continent. The event featured:

• Demonstration plots with key Rijk Zwaan varieties such as African eggplant, African hot pepper, tomato, and cucumber, etc

• Greenhouse displays highlighting protected cultivation techniques

• A strong focus on innovation, sustainability, and local relevance.

Visit from the Minister of Agriculture

We were honored to welcome the Minister of Agriculture of Benin, Mr Gaston Dossouhoui to our demonstration field. His visit underscored the importance of innovation in agriculture and the role of partnerships in driving sector growth. During his visit, he shared the following words:

“I am impressed by the quality of the innovations presented here, especially the exceptional yields of 60 to 80 tonnes per hectare for tomatoes, and by the potential to transform our young professionals into true agricultural entrepreneurs."

His presence and support were a strong endorsement of the work being done to advance vegetable production in the region.

Training & Capacity Building

A central component of the event was a series of technical training sessions designed to build capacity and share practical knowledge. Topics included:

• Business case development for profitable vegetable farming

• Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies

• Nursery management and seedling production techniques

These sessions generated valuable discussions on improving productivity, efficiency, and resilience in vegetable production systems.

For more information, read our solutions in Africa