Phase I : 1989 / 1995
The first year, 63 farmers were strategically placed in each of the six departments of the country, in the second year of planting, 2,000 farmers joined the programme and Dr Galiba predicted that the number would rise at least 30,000 within five years.
Individual farmers could not take part in of the PTP programme all by themselves : they must either belong to an organised group, or form one. Literacy and organisational training programmes were being offered to members of the farmers’ groups to assist them in managing their organisations. In particular, group leaders were being trained in simple accounting and administrative procedures.
Like Togo, Benin had a long tradition of farmers’ cooperatives, so they were invited to take advantage of the situation and SG 2000 consolidated them by good training and information.

After 5 years of demonstrating recommended technologies, there were encouraging signs. Yields had been dramatically increased, soil exhaustion lessened, and farmers’ incomes significantly improved. Not only could farmers fill up their barns but they could market their excess production.
However, the south of Benin was in a critical situation in terms of sustainable agriculture. The soil protection and the restoration of fertility were still priorities. Farmers should include more legumes in their farming systems. The use of velvet bean to fight speargrass and restore the soil fertility could be a breakthrough.
Post-harvest technologies received more emphasis ; as well as building adequate and affordable storage structure. But the key to the whole process would be the progress of the graduate farmers, since they would become the ones to light the torch for the Green Revolution in Africa.

SG 2000 had been giving high priority to the Mucuna programme. «Growing edible Mucuna beans, » said SG 2000 Director Marcel Galiba, «is proving very popular with farmers given the multifaceted benefits of the crop including weed control, while adding organic matter and nitrogen to the soil. »
The post harvest programme, fully launched in 1995, was expanded through the Ministry of Rural Development. Some 1,200 PTP farmers received small grants to help them build various types of grain storage and drying structures to serve as demonstration points for other farmers.

Phase II : 1996 / 1998
Benin entered into phase II mode in 1996, with progressively smaller budgets and an increasingly narrow range of activities.

In the Savannah areas of Benin where the tsetse fly is not a serious problem, farmers had some experience in using bullocks (local cattle breeds off small stature) for land preparation.
These areas contained some of the most suitable land in the country for food production and land was available to expand the average size of farm holdings. SG 2000 was interested in promoting the use of improved implements (ploughs, cultivators/harrows, wagons/carts) developed through a United Nations Development Programme, in these areas.

SG 2000 has provided some financial support to several institutions in Benin for research on cover crops, improved varieties including QPM, and use of phosphate to enrich mucuna organic matter.

The Ministry of Rural Development/SG 2000 programme in Benin concentrated on four activities in Phase Two :
- field demonstrations on improved rice production ;
- soil fertility restoration and maintenance ;
- post harvest technologies ;
- and support to farmers’ associations and rural capital mobilisation.

Support had also be given to strengthening private sector activities in both input procurement and seed production. Selection and training of private seed growers had started and research strategies for both breeder and foundation seed had been defined. Private seed production in Benin took off in 1997.

Phase II SG 2000 programme in Benin had been fully integrated within ongoing programmes of the Ministry of Rural Development. By that time, a fewer SG 2000 administrative staff have been supporting the Ministry’s technical officiers who carry out the programme.

The work to introduce the velvet bean has been brought to a conclusion, since its technology has “taken off“, adopted by more than 100,000 farm families over the past years.
Increasing lowland rice production continues to be a key area for SG 2000 support in 1998. Benin is importing 50,000 tonnes of rice annually, a vastly exceeding production.

By the end of 1997, there were 50 CREPs, savings and loan associations (Caisse Rurales d’Epargne et de Prêt) well established in the country with 15,000 members and deposits of US$3 million. Repayments were nearly 100%. «Using the CREP to support access to inputs, » Galiba said, «is a real step towards sustainable development. As a result, an increasing number of farmers are turning to rice production and using improved varieties and fertiliser.»

The SG 2000 programme in Benin ended at the end of 1998, but still helps to consolidate the CREP movement, the savings and loan associations that have been established by farmers who have graduated from the PTP programme over the past 7 years, and supports some activities through the regional programmes and some international workshops.