PfD, USDA to bolster Benin pineapple industry

Non-profit organization Partners for Development (PfD) and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) will boost the production, processing, and export of pineapples in Benin with their Pineapple Processing for Export (PINEX) program.

The five-year PINEX program will reach out to 5,200 pineapple farmers and 70 processing companies. The industry is currently the third most-valuable agricultural market in Benin.

Partners for Development officials said the program will offer training to Beninese people throughout the production chain, set new quality standards, improve farm productivity and open new financing opportunities for farmers to build their businesses.

PINEX is funded through the USDA's Food for Progress program, which works to improve agriculture in developing countries.