Sustainable agriculture has become a crucial topic globally now more than ever. In our September SOTM (slide of the month), we highlighted agriculture as one of the most vital sectors in Africa. It provides employment and food for the population. We also analysed the top agricultural exporters from Africa, and Cote d’Ivoire was the top country exporting cocoa, nuts, rubber, and fruits.
Kevin Armattoe, a Business Analyst – africon, Côte d’Ivoire, spoke in a panel on “Promotion of farmers’ seeds in the face of climate diversity in West Africa”. Attendees included experts from different fields in agriculture and PhD students in nutrition and agriculture. He shared data on the potential for sustainable agriculture in Côte d’Ivoire. It is a lower middle-income country that has the power to be one of the largest economies in West Africa. Agriculture is one of the growth sectors, and over 60% of the country’s land is dedicated to farming. Ivory Coast is the biggest cocoa producer globally, supplying about 2,200,000 tons of cocoa beans annually.
However, some of the agricultural sector’s challenges are soil erosion, deforestation, and climate change. Kevin mentioned that many programs and initiatives are in place that promote sustainable agriculture. He recommended solutions such as technology (i.e. farming with detectors) and research and training to improve the thinking on sustainable agriculture.
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