Promoting Food Security in the Ivory Coast

According to the Council on Foreign Relations, projections indicate that Africa’s population will double by 2050. By 2100, it is estimated that one in three people on Earth will be African. Given these forecasts, it’s evident that now is the time to invest in sub-Saharan Africa’s agricultural industry as a key economic driver.

The Mandela Washington Fellowship Reciprocal Exchange enables United States universities to establish partnerships that broaden professional connections, foster lasting relationships, expand agricultural markets and enhance mutual understanding in Africa.

In conjunction with the fellowship and agribusiness company Dev-Agri, NC State University Professor Carlos Iglesias, director of the NC State Plant Breeding Consortium, recently traveled to the Ivory Coast to learn more about the country’s agricultural practices, the challenges farmers face and how he can help in the future.

Ivory Coast Agriculture

Situated in West Africa, the Ivory Coast spans 322,412 square kilometers, with over 60% of the land suitable for food production and plenty of available labor. It is one of the fastest-growing economies globally, with a projected growth rate of 6.5% for 2024. While it leads the world in cocoa production and is Africa’s top producer of cashews and rubber, the country imports a significant portion of its food, including 40% of its rice.

The typical Ivorian diet focuses on rice and cassava, with chicken and fish as primary proteins, while milk and legume consumption is low. The Ivorian government is committed to supporting farmers and agriculture enterprises in the quest to achieve food self-sufficiency. The country has the potential to become a key supplier for the rapidly growing and urbanizing west African region. 

Given the projected population growth, Ivory Coast could enhance peace and stability through sustainable food production. Supported by the Ivorian government, Dev-Agri is spearheading a project that aims to create 600 polyhouses (plastic-covered greenhouse-type structures that allow for indoor crop production) and irrigate 1,320 hectares for vegetable production. While funding for advanced agricultural technologies is available, enhancing communication between stakeholders is essential for success.

Iglesias partnered with Ben Boyles from Clemson University Extension to participate in the reciprocal scientist exchange program during the week of Oct. 5-12, hosted by one of the Dev-Agri project coordinators. They visited a series of project sites to evaluate agricultural conditions and discuss opportunities and challenges with Dev-Agri, the Ivorian government and smallholder farmers.

Iglesias grew up in a small farming community in Uruguay and has always been passionate about helping develop agriculture and food production in Africa. He’s also worked with multiple crops through public and private institutions, as well as in developed and developing countries, which suited him well for this particular exchange.

“Having professional experience working both in the public and private sector has enabled me to take advantage of initiatives like this where a government is sponsoring a company in agriculture and food production projects involving small farmer communities,” says Iglesias. “I have been involved with mostly publicly funded international projects, and have been looking for opportunities like this to bring private entrepreneurship into the development process.”

In coordination with Professor Jose Cisneros, director of International Programs at NC State’s College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, Iglesias is planning to receive a delegation from the Ivory Coast next summer, which will present an ideal opportunity to establish formal mechanisms of collaboration. It will also allow other regional universities to join NC State and Clemson to help countries in west Africa develop their agriculture and food production sectors.

Technical and Logistical Challenges

 After visiting three partially constructed sites inhabited by weeds, Iglesias and Boyles identified several challenges and opportunities regarding the polyhouses and agriculture production in the Ivory Coast. 

“High temperatures could pose risks to both worker safety and crop growth conditions if proper ventilation systems are not installed,” says Iglesias. “The water systems need to be elevated to ensure adequate pressure reaches all polyhouses. Additionally, implementing crop rotation is crucial to reduce pathogens and enhance soil fertility. Proper training must be conducted once the polyhouses are operational and growers have gained experience with production challenges.”

Discussions with the Ivorian Ministry of Agriculture revealed that while leaders and farmers possess knowledge in seed production, a lack of operational resources hampers their progress. It became clear that Iglesias could provide technical assistance in early seed selection, production and the advancement of crop genetics through plant variety selections.

In Ivory Coast, the agricultural industry is primarily made up of smallholder farmers and cooperatives. Most farming activities are carried out using human labor, with limited access to equipment, says Iglesias. Due to the economic burden on these farmers, which is often beyond their means, Iglesias recommends that grower cooperatives invest in mechanized equipment, such as rototillers, to be shared among the rice farmers on a scheduled basis.

A Fertile Future

If the pieces fall into place, there is no shortage of opportunity for growth in the agricultural sector not only for the Ivory Coast, but the entire region as well.

“The Ivory Coast has significant potential for food production and could become self-sufficient, even supplying substantial amounts of food to neighboring countries,” says Iglesias. “There is an abundance of idle land, available labor, and demand for food. What is needed is capital to support technological and logistical advancements.”

Iglesias and Boyles evaluated this situation through the lens of the Dev-Agri project. This initiative represents a promising beginning, driven by good intentions. However, its success hinges on careful planning, timely access to resources (such as seeds and fertilizers), effective technical support, and proper marketing and sales logistics.

“In the long term, our goal is for farmers to be so successful that they no longer rely on government assistance,” says Iglesias. “Teaching farmers sound entrepreneurship practices is akin to teaching someone to fish rather than simply providing them with tilapia.”

Based on Iglesias’s experience, what he observed in Ivory Coast applies to several other key countries in sub-Saharan Africa. The opportunity to partner with farmers there could open the door for NC State to become a key partner in developing agriculture and food production across Africa, with a focus on Francophone countries.