News

On the sidelines of the Symposium on the State of Agriculture and Environmental Sustainability in West and Central Africa, held from November 19 to 21, 2024 in Accra, a delegation from CORAF (Conseil Ouest et Centre Africain pour la Recherche et le Développement Agricoles), led by Executive Director Dr. Moumini Savadogo, held a series of strategic meetings and visits with key partners. These exchanges have laid the foundations for strengthened collaborations and ambitious initiatives to reinforce agricultural resilience in West and Central Africa.

One of the highlights of the trip to Ghana was a visit to the USAID Regional Mission office in Accra. The CORAF delegation was welcomed by Michelle Barrett, Deputy Director of the Mission, and her team.

The meeting provided an opportunity to exchange views on current projects and to discuss the forthcoming launch of a new WASSD program. The overall objective of the West Africa Seed Sector Development Program (WASSD) is to improve agricultural productivity through increased farmer access to and use of improved agricultural inputs and technologies provided by West African private sector companies, and through collaborative engagement with a multitude of regional and national organizations and associations. Discussions also focused on the seed sector, collaboration with the private sector, and strengthening agricultural systems in the face of climate challenges.

"We particularly appreciated their hospitality and the ideas shared, which will undoubtedly strengthen our partnership to achieve sustainable agricultural solutions in West and Central Africa. This meeting underlined the importance of collaborative initiatives such as the West African Agricultural Productivity Program (WASP) and PAIRED, which have had significant impacts in the region," said CORAF's Executive Director at the end of the visit.

Towards a structuring partnership and innovative prospects

The CORAF delegation also met CARE International Ghana's Country Director, accompanied by the Regional Director based in Mali. 

Discussions focused on key themes such as :

• The transfer of agricultural technologies and innovations;
• Extending the adoption of improved seeds ;
• Empowering women and young people in rural areas;
• Contributing to food and nutritional security in the region.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between CORAF and CARE International Ghana will be formalized, paving the way for operational collaboration on several structuring projects. 

In a move aimed at establishing innovative partnerships, the CORAF team also held a meeting with senior officials of the Australian High Commission in Ghana. The meeting addressed a number of strategic themes, including water management and pastoralism; the extension of digital hubs to improve connectivity and access to information in rural areas; and the strengthening of agricultural partnerships, particularly in research and technological innovation. These discussions opened up prospects for enhanced collaboration between the two institutions in support of inclusive projects in the region.

Visit to IFDC Ghana: Soil fertility and agricultural productivity

The delegation's tour ended with a visit to the headquarters of the International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC), where the team met Mrs. Enam K. Gbekor, Country Director of IFDC Ghana, and her staff. Discussions focused on ways of collaborating to improve soil management, promote the efficient use of fertilizers, and strengthen the resilience of agricultural systems in the face of climatic and economic pressures. The visit underlined the importance of soil fertility in improving agricultural yields, an essential aspect in guaranteeing food security in the sub-region.

The CORAF delegation's visit to Ghana paves the way for enhanced initiatives to meet agricultural and environmental challenges, in particular through :

• Increased support for the seed sector ;
• Developing agricultural technologies for resilient agriculture;
• Implementation of programs to empower rural communities.