Plateau Department

Plateau Department occupies southeastern Benin, its name describing terrain that rises gently from the coastal lowlands. The department borders Nigeria to the east, creating edge effects that shape economic activity through formal trade and informal exchange. The Kétou kingdom's historical influence persists in cultural traditions, connecting Plateau to broader Yoruba heritage spanning the Nigeria border.

Agriculture centers on palm oil, cashews, and food crops including cassava and maize. The department ranks among Benin's significant agricultural producers, benefiting from rainfall adequate for diverse cropping without the extreme seasonality of northern regions. Oil palm plantations represent both traditional smallholder production and newer industrial estates, the latter sometimes controversial for displacing forest and communities.

Proximity to Nigeria's markets offers economic opportunity but also creates dependency. Plateau's farmers can sell produce across the border at prices reflecting Nigerian demand, yet this exposure also transmits Nigerian economic volatility—when the naira depreciates, cross-border trade dynamics shift unpredictably. The department's position between Porto-Novo and the border gives it transit functions, with goods moving between Benin's ports and Nigerian hinterland. Infrastructure investment could enhance this positioning, but current roads and border facilities constrain throughput.