News

The first edition of the West Africa Technology Fair (WATEF) will open in the Senegalese capital, Dakar, on Monday October 25, 2021. The main objective is to promote the cutting-edge technologies needed to transform West African agriculture. 

Taking place over five days (October 25-30, 2021) at the King Fahd Palace Hotel, the event will attract West African ministers of agriculture and finance, farmers' organizations, businesses, members of civil society and more.

WATEF is jointly organized by CORAF and the Technologies for Transforming African Agriculture (TAAT) program, under the auspices of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

Most of the innovations presented are technologies deployed on a large scale by CORAF and TAAT Specialization Centers to open up avenues for innovative partnerships, technology brokering and adoption.

"WATEF represents a platform for bringing proven technologies and products to market, creating a situation where demand meets supply, and exposing them to potential buyers," said Dr. Abdou Tenkouano, Executive Director of CORAF.

"The show will create opportunities for new partnerships with the private sector and other technology users in the sub-region."

TAAT's overall objective is to improve agriculture as a business activity across Africa by deploying technologies to increase agricultural productivity in nine priority products.

"WATEF will help to further integrate innovative technologies into national agricultural programs for transformation and socio-economic development in the sub-region," says Dr. Innocent Musabyimana, Director of the TAAT Exchange Center.

"As a follow-up to the High-Level Dialogue on Feeding Africa: Leadership to Scale Up Successful Innovations, organized by the African Development Bank and the International Fund for Agricultural Development in April 2021, the fair will also build on the outcomes of the 2021 UN Food Systems Summit as a pathway to a food-secure West Africa." 

Under the theme "Sustaining the momentum towards agricultural transformation", the show, held physically and virtually under the patronage of Prof. Moussa Baldé, Senegalese Minister of Agriculture and Rural Equipment, and H.E. Mr. Sekou Sangare, ECOWAS Commissioner for Agriculture, Environment and Water Resources, will include agricultural value chains such as aquaculture, rice, corn, wheat, sorghum and millet, livestock and cassava. Others include orange-fleshed sweet potatoes, beans and vegetables. The fair will also provide a forum for addressing cross-cutting agricultural issues, such as harmonization of seed policy, water management and irrigation, soil fertility, control of the fall armyworm and youth empowerment in the agri-food industry.

Key objectives of the technology fair

The fair is a "marketplace" event comprising demand, supply and feasibility elements, pursuing its objective of increased technology adoption and integration, towards agricultural transformation.

The key objectives are :

1. Present the tried and tested technologies of the TAAT Program and CORAF for agricultural transformation;
2. Deepen understanding and familiarity with the operation and potential of ;
3. Familiarize stakeholders with the technology profiling tools and platforms of the TAAT Program and CORAF to evaluate and acquire technologies in response to demand;
4. Strengthen links between technology "owners", the private sector and other technology users;
5. Establish new investment and collaboration partnerships that lead to project scaling and resource mobilization.

Speakers: 

Dr Martin Fregene, Director of Agriculture and Agro-Industry, African Development Bank

Dr Nteranya Sanginga, Director General IITA & Regional Director OneCGIAR

Dr Yemi Akinbamijo, Executive Director, FARA

Dr Abdou Tenkouano, Executive Director, CORAF

General Managers of National Agricultural Research Systems in West Africa

Participants :

• West African Ministers of Agriculture and Finance
• Central bank governors
• Emerging and leading private sector industry
• National agricultural research and extension systems
• Representatives of farmers' organizations
• Leaders of global and regional development institutions
• Representatives of civil society and the media 

Please click here to register: https: //t.ly/W7zq