On Thursday, June 16, 2022, the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries (APRM), Mr. Gaston Cossi DOSSSOUHOUI, officially installed in their functions, the members of the agricultural sector’s National Council for Guidance and Monitoring (CNOS). The Prefect of the Coast, Alain Orounla, the President of the Association of Non-State Actors (ANE), the Representative of the European Union and executives of the Ministry took part in this event.
After the adoption of Decree No.2021-376 of 14 July 2021 on the powers, organization and functioning of the agricultural sector’s National Council for Guidance and Monitoring (CNOS) with a view to adapting it to new challenges, those who have been appointed for the assignment got to business. They received a mandate from the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, Gaston Cossi Dossouhoui. It should be made clear that this council is a framework for consultation, dialogue and participatory governance between all actors in the agricultural sector. In this capacity, it is responsible for ensuring the popularization and dissemination of agricultural sector policy documents; ensuring the effective and efficient implementation of the national policy for the development of the agricultural sector in relation to the competent operational structures; analysing the results of the implementation of the national policy for the development of the agricultural sector; proposing corrective measures to political leaders for better management of the agricultural sector; ensuring the prevention and management of conflicts between the different categories of actors involved in the agricultural sector. After recalling the challenges that await Benin in the sector, the Minister recalled the ambitions and vision of the government through this council. For him, « the National Council for Guidance and Monitoring (CNOS) of the agricultural sector and its Leading Team that we are establishing today, is a real tool to ensure a better management of the agricultural sector’s actions. In the current context of the continued operationalization of the Territorial Agencies for Agricultural Development, and of the other structures resulting from the reform, in particular the National Agricultural Development Fund, the Beninese Food Safety Agency, it appears necessary that the CNOS, as a steering and regulatory body, should play its part in promoting and popularizing the actions of the sector, in particular for the promotion of agricultural sectors. » Speaking to the members of the committee, the minister said: « You have a heavy responsibility to monitor, guide and regulate the agricultural sector’s activities with a view to improving the quality of its management. » The Head of the Leading Team of the Council, Moses Achille HOUSSOU, was aware of the challenge. « We have no choice because the agriculture sector is a major sector for our country, » he said before making a commitment on behalf of other members to work towards the promotion of the Beninese agriculture in order to make it a reference from the point of view of structuring, producing and promoting its sectors. It should be noted that the agricultural sector ‘s CNOS includes twenty-three (23) members. Their term of office is three years.
