FUTURE-PROOFING FARMING IN CÔTE D’IVOIRE
Agriculture is the mainstay of many developing economies, but modernization is key to maxi- mizing value and ensuring sustainability. In 2022, the OPEC Fund provided US$295 million to the agriculture sector in partner countries worldwide.
As the world’s top producer of cocoa and with over half its territory dedicated to agriculture, Côte d’Ivoire has enormous export potential. Yet its capacity to process cocoa, cashews and other valuable foods remains limited, depriving the economy of critical funds and the potential to upgrade its value chain. The country faces a number of interconnected problems. First, agriculture is poorly mechanized because of a lack of investment, particularly among young farmers and small businesses. Second, pot-holed roads connecting farmlands and markets lead to heavy post-harvest losses, further reducing farmers’ in- comes. Third, the focus on cash crops has raised dependence on food imports while also causing deforestation, which is accelerating with climate change. With food security at the top of the global agenda, the OPEC Fund and the African Development Bank (AfDB) are now leading a project in Côte d’Ivoire that is boosting agricultural efficiency while maximizing value added. The project aligns with the country’s National Agriculture Investment Plan 2021-2025, which aims to accelerate “the structural transformation of the economy through industrialization and cluster development”. The project will be implemented in four provinces selected in consultation with the government: Bagoué, Hambol, Poro and Tchologo located in the north of the country. These areas cover a quarter of the national territory and account for about 10 percent of the total population of Côte d’Ivoire. It has been identified as the region hosting the most vulnerable population facing recurrent food crises. The target population in the project area reaches 65,000 households, representing 400,000 people.
The project’s holistic approach will enable more efficient and inclusive contracting between all stakeholders via the smoother functioning and transparency of markets, and via greater accessibility to goods and services. These aspects will be supported by a regulatory framework that is more conducive to contracting, more respectful to the rights of farmers, while firmly establishing social standards, health standards and above all environmental standards.
KOBENAN KOUASSI ADJOUMANI Minister of Agriculture & Rural Development, Côte d’Ivoire
24
Powered by FlippingBook