The National Centre of Agro-Pedology (CENAP) in Benin
| CENAP | phone: ..229-350070 |
| 01 BP 988 Recette Principale, Cotonou, Benin | email: cenap@bow.intnet.bj |
The National Centre of Agro-Pedology (CENAP) in Benin
CENAP phone: ..229-350070 01 BP 988 Recette Principale, Cotonou, Benin email: cenap@bow.intnet.bj
History
Between 1945 and 1972 in Benin pedological studies were conducted by the french organization ORSTOM (now IRD). They were focussed on export products only. At the end of 1971 the National Committee for Agronomic Research (CNRA) began an initiative to build up a National Soil Service. The initiative was financed by FAO and PNUD. Finally, in 1974 the Agro-Pedological Project (PAP) was founded and became the National Centre of Agro-Pedology in 1983.Objectives
The objectives of CENAP are :- to conduct studies which aid the use and management of the national soil resourcesStructure
- to inventory and evaluate soils according to the needs of land use planning and development projects
The National Centre of Agro-Pedology consists of six divisions :
1. Inventory and evaluation of soil resources
2. Mapping and editing
3. Soil, water and vegetation analysis
4. Fertility and fertility restoration of soils
5. Soil and water conservation
6. Administration and accountsFinance
The CENAP relies on three sources :
- national assignments
- consultancy work for the public and private sector
- research contracts and grantsPerspectives
The CENAP wishes to :
- establish a database of soil and terrain resources covering the whole country
- realise land evaluation maps for the most common agricultural crops
- realise a soil degradation map at a scale of 1 : 200 00