The Zongo II vegetable growers’ “Idakpo” association garden is a community one located in the Zongo II quarter, about 500 m in the private residence of the former president of the Benin republic and about 1 km from the Zongo II public elementary school, in Parakou’s third district. Parakou, Benin’s third special status town, is as well known because of its geographic location as for the origins of the people living there. This Borgou department township is in the north of the country and is the largest city in northern Benin.
The “Idakpo” group garden was created in October 1996 and has 10 members. Over the years, this number saw a net increase in membership, with a healthy number of them who look after the group’s activities. The overall number of members grew from 10 in 1996 to 60 in 2016. The group is managed by a committee of: a president, a secretary, a treasurer, 2 organisers and 2 leaders. The first contact with the Slow Food group was in January 2016, through the “Ankiandi Yan’Wan” convivium and the Association des Volontaires du Développement Durable (Association of Durable Development Volunteers) (AVD Benin).
The “Idakpo” group garden covers a plot of land of about 3 ha. As this land was not the group’s property, irrigation wells are often a source of disagreement between property owners and the group members. The group specialises in production of off-season crops that are needed for the lean periods. Of note is the fact that the group only works during the dry season because the growing area is flooded during the rainy season.
The “Idakpo” group members grow the following: cabbage, tomatoes, lettuce, okra, crin-crin, carrots, onions, all local varieties of legumes and maize. The different products from the harvest are partly destined for consumption by the group family members. The rest of the harvest is put on the local market. Revenues from this sale are used mostly for the benefit of the families: educating their children, for food and health purposes. The rest is dedicated to buying equipment for the group.
In order for their activities to remain environmental-friendly, the “Idakpo” group members use certain traditional techniques to fertilise the soil. Among these techniques, the most frequently used is natural fertiliser, manure, and filtrate.
Area
The Zongo II quarter, third district in the Parakou township, Borgou department
Coordinator
Gbena Frejusto Do Capio-Vianio Kougblenou
