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• The integrated strategy was validated at the end of an inclusive and participatory process that lasted over two years;
• The strategy is the first of its kind, covering crop seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, feed concentrates, animal germplasm for priority crops, livestock and aquaculture;
• The plan will now be forwarded to ECOWAS member states for adoption.

After an extensive consultation process lasting over two years, West Africa has finally validated its pioneering agricultural inputs integration strategy. Meeting virtually on Thursday, August 20, 2020, West African agricultural inputs stakeholders approved the new plan, which will now be forwarded to member countries of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) for approval.

Unlike previous strategies, which tended to treat inputs individually, the current plan covers seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, feed concentrates, vaccines and animal germplasm for priority crops, livestock and aquaculture.

"In my opinion, we have an excellent product. All that remains is to make it our own, both nationally and internationally", said Dr. Abdou Tenkouano, Executive Director of CORAF.

CORAF led the strategy formulation process on behalf of ECOWAS.

The average use of seeds, fertilizers and pesticides in West Africa remains relatively low compared with the rest of the world. Although the ECOWAS Commission has called for increased use of inputs, the target of 50 kg/hectare has not been achieved.

Improving the availability, accessibility and use of quality agricultural inputs is the overriding objective of this strategy.

"If the strategy is implemented as written, we will see the availability of inputs in quality, quantity, in the right place, at the right time and at the right price," added Dr Tenkouano.

While the players involved can be proud of the fact that the region now has an integrated strategy, much remains to be done to translate it into concrete programs.

"This is a regional strategy for the priority investment program that will result, and will enable ECOWAS to mobilize additional resources from donors and partners," said Alain Sy Traore, ECOWAS Director of Agriculture.

The senior ECOWAS official praised USAID, the World Bank and the European Union, which are already funding input programs.

USAID's foreign aid is currently being put in place to enable local institutions and actors to take ownership, define and implement sustainable solutions to their problems. USAID funds CORAF's seed program, PAIRED, and IFDC's fertilizer program, EnGRAIS.

What does the new strategy contain?

This regional strategy provides a vision and harmonized framework for the production and distribution of agricultural inputs at Community level. Its implementation by member states will also help to alleviate any current distortions on the regional agricultural inputs market.

The strategy focuses on three key areas:

• Strengthening local capacities for private production and rational use of agricultural inputs;
• Promotion of intra-regional trade in quality agricultural inputs;
• Creating an environment conducive to the promotion of quality agricultural inputs.

Experts see increased food production as a solution to population growth and land degradation. Intensifying production requires greater use of agricultural inputs such as improved seeds, fertilizers and so on. It is therefore necessary to have quality inputs adapted to the ecology of the regions. This strategy will pave the way for the development of adaptable crop varieties and feed concentrates for small ruminant breeders in the Sahel.

According to experts, low agricultural productivity is mainly due to the low use of quality agricultural inputs. The current strategy aims to sustainably increase agricultural productivity in order to enhance food and nutrition security and income generation in West Africa and the Sahel through increased and improved use of quality agricultural inputs.

"This document is our regional guide. It is the ECOWAS and UEMOA strategy on the development of agro-sylvo-pastoral inputs in West Africa. We invite stakeholders to use this document as an advocacy and negotiation document with donors", declared Alain Sy Traore.

This strategy covers the period 2021-2030, with an action plan covering the period 2021-2025.

What's next?

The next step is to translate the strategy into concrete programs. A new regional working group (Platform for the Development and Promotion of Agricultural Inputs) will lead implementation in the region.

The missions of this regional working group are as follows:

• Strengthen partnership and collaboration for the development and promotion of agricultural inputs;
• Monitor the implementation of the strategy and ;
• Stimulate the creation of similar working groups at national level.

This regional task force will be led by ECOWAS and UEMOA, and will include regional institutions, the private sector, regional farmers' organizations and development partners.

Here are some key deadlines for implementing the strategy

• Drawing up a priority investment program to implement the strategy ;
• Communicating and defending the strategy with stakeholders in each country to ensure greater ownership;
• Send a letter to the ECOWAS group of technical and financial partners and development institutions so that they can include their actions in the strategy;
• Organize webinars to communicate and mobilize around strategy ownership;
• Publish the strategy and organize a press conference to make it public and accessible to all.

Read also:

• New hope for West African farmers
• "Innovating in the supply of inputs to farmers" an ECOWAS Official
• The regional strategy for the integrated management of agricultural inputs begins to take shape
• Validation of the integrated regional agricultural input strategy
• West Africa moves closer to an agricultural inputs plan