Local Governance of a Dairy Sector in Benin Republic: Actors, Roles, Power Relationships and Perception of Interdependency

This study is an organizational analysis of the dairy sector in Benin republic. It focuses on the actors, their roles and relationships in order to reveal areas of conflicts and identify areas of interdependency to strengthen for a more competitive and inclusive dairy sector. The study used the case study approach along the segments of the dairy sector. Data were collected from July 2013 to April 2014 in two municipalities of Benin Nikki (North) and Dassa (Centre). Data were collected during group discussions (13) and individual interviews (67) using questionnaire. We found that actors of the dairy sector knew each other but the roles and the context of operation of each actor were poorly known to actors of other segments. The Dairy Unit built to modernize and improve (sanitary) milk processing set institutional arrangements that hardly fit in the socio-cultural prescriptions that govern the local milk transactions. Walagashi collectors/vendors recently emerged (20 years ago) and link directly the processors to the consumers. They shorten the market channels and reduce transaction costs. The study concludes that actors of the dairy sector need more dialogue and information flow to strengthen synergy and interdependency. Any attempt of modernization of milk processing and formalization of relationships between actors should take into account local governance system in place.