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The 4th Salon International de l'Agriculture et des Ressources Animales (SARA) opened on Friday, November 17, 2017 in Abidjan in the presence of Africa's largest sub-regional research organization, the West and Central African Council for Agricultural Research and Development.

The "CORAF village" featured technologies generated under the West African Agricultural Productivity Program (WAAPP). Exhibits included bread made from sorghum and certified cereals from Senegal, and giant cassava and maize from Ghana. From Nigeria, the CORAF stand displays a smoking oven and a mobile fish tank. Improved rice varieties from Mali and various banana and plantain species from Côte d'Ivoire are also on display.

SARA is one of Africa's largest agriculture and animal resources fairs, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors. Organizers are expecting more visitors this year. At the last edition in 2015, 300,000 people attended SARA.

Some 3,250 exhibitors and 7,000 professionals from 18 countries are taking part in this year's SARA.

The program includes seminars and forums focusing on the theme of "Structural transformation of the agricultural economy in the face of climate change". SARA also offers companies the opportunity to conclude new business deals and improve collaborations.

Friday's opening ceremony was presided over by the President of Côte d'Ivoire, SEM Alassane Ouattara.

In his statement, he said: "to meet the challenges of structural transformation of the agricultural economy; It is important to make agricultural production more resilient to climate change and less vulnerable to fluctuations in world prices."

The Ivorian Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mamadou Sangafowa Coulibaly, as well as several government officials, agribusiness leaders and major foreign investors in Africa's agricultural sector were also present.

The "CORAF Village" is located in Pavilion A of the Innovation Pole, dedicated to agricultural innovation.

SARA 2017 closes on November 27.