Banikoara[ba.ni.kwa.ʁa] is a town, arrondissement and commune located in the Alibori Department of Benin. It lies 69 kilometers west of Kandi at the heart of the most productive cotton-growing region in Benin. Its name is a Europeanized version of a Bariba phrase meaning "Bani's town", and honors its founder, Bani Gansé.
The commune covers an area of 4383 square kilometres and as of 2002 had a population of 152,028 people.[2][4] In 2008 there was an estimated 24,917 living in the main town.[5]
Economy
Most of the population are engaged in agricultural activities followed by trade and handicrafts. 51 024,00 hectares of land are devoted to agriculture, accounting for 7.32% of the total land area.[2] The main crops grown are maize, cotton, sorghum and cowpeas.[2]
Electricity used in Banikora often has to be produced by a generator due to a defective solar system and unreliable mains electricity.[6] The telephone lines are in poor condition, which makes it difficult to maintain a regular and reliable connection for Internet access.[6] Banikoara is 60 kilometres from the nearest hard road and its development is hampered by its isolation until infrastructure develops.[6]
Media
UNESCO has donated four computers and other equipment and provided an initial two-week training and been responsible for the establishment of a radio station in Banikoara in 1994.[6] They had provided education to local people in basic IT and Internet skills since February 2002, text processing, photocopying, scanning, printing and photography.[6]
