Drill a Well and Irrigate a new farm in Benin

Dear Friends,

We are happy to report good news from the Gbedavo farm!  It is being developed in coordination with the new center treating people with substance use disorders near Dassa, Benin. Our partners at Les Amis de la (Friends of) Saint Camille are taking a management lead at the request of Association Saint Camille (ASC). We are very grateful for your participation! You have contributed to the well, irrigation, and equipment purchases. 

The farm is meeting the goals so far.  Gbedavo 1 (20 hectares, about 50 acres) goals are to grow garden produce to consume at the treatment center and sell to the local community. The produce has made a slight profit. The projected income for 2026 is $18,000 USD.   

The most successful crop has been bananas and is expected to be self-sustaining with new plantings from the existing trees, reducing expenses.  The projected income from bananas in 2026 is $9,000 USD. 

Teak on Gbedavo 2 (50 hectares, about 123 acres) with 33,000 trees planted in 4 years is projected to produce 80,000 USD. Mango trees have been added, and other fruit trees are planned.     

The farm is under new management, with many thanks to Loic, retired farmer, and Gerald, agro-economist, who have returned to their respective homes in France and Mali. A new manager with extensive training and two recovered patients with farming experience have been hired to lead the project after an extensive vetting process. The farm has come a long way under good leadership since being purchased in 2021.

The Reintegration Center, which will house 40 staff and patients in recovery, is weeks away from completion. It will open after the solarization, plumbing, and painting are finished. Here, patients will learn farming and other skills to help them reintegrate into their communities.  

We are excited to have you share in the progress of the farm and the many social, psychological, and financial benefits that are expected from this endeavor.

Thank you!   

• PressReleaseLes_AmisASC_July_2025English_Press_Release.docx (DOCX)

Dear Friends, 

We are pleased to report that the expansion plans for going forward with the Gbedavo farm in Dassa have been approved by the Board of Directors of Les Amis de la (Friends of) Saint Camille, our Canadian NGO partners. 

Gbedavo - 1 will be continued with planting corn and other market plants and bananas doubling the yield in 2 years. The projected income in 2026 of 25,000 USD.

Expenses include tractor, plants and seeds, fertilizer of 20,000 USD. 

Gbedavo - 2 land will be cleared and prepared for teak seedlings now. Fruit trees will be added in 2026. The projected income in 4 years is 79,000 USD.

Expenses include land clearing, drilling a new well, plants, fertilizer, and labor for 6,000 USD. A tractor, solar for the well pump add  9, 000 USD. Repairs, salaries, and contingency plans add another 8,000 USD. 

A total investment of 43, 000 USD is projected in the budget. Multiple sources of support have been identified. 

Three patients in recovery with extensive farming experience have been interviewed for jobs at the farm. Our NGO partner has worked closely with the lead farmer, the personnel involved, and Association Saint Camille to outline a careful plan for success. 

Thank you for your ongoing commitment to make this dream of a profitable farm a reality.