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CORAF to strengthen the technical and infrastructural capacities of the National Cashew Research Program in Côte d'Ivoire

The Conseil du coton et de l'anacarde (CCA) of Côte d'Ivoire has asked CORAF to support the Programme national ivoirien de recherche sur l'anacarde (PNRA), which aims to reorganize and strengthen the industry in the country.

The Council expressed this wish at the workshop on updating the NARP, held from February 22 to 24, 2022 in Yamoussoukro, Côte d'Ivoire.

The three-day workshop provided an opportunity to review NARP activities and revise its strategy.

The main aim of the PNRA is to intensify cashew nut production and development in Côte d'Ivoire, doubling production by 2030 on the one hand, and guaranteeing the processing of all production and the development of by-products on the other.

Côte d'Ivoire's ambition is to become one of the world's leading producers of mahogany nuts. It is therefore important for the country to put in place mechanisms that strengthen the sector and make it more sustainable, more resilient and above all more profitable for farmers".

said Dr Abdou TENKOUANO, Executive Director of CORAF.

The workshop on updating the PNRA was therefore held with the aim of readjusting the program's strategy to adapt it to current challenges and boost the cashew nut sector.

Following the discussions, CORAF is expected to intervene in two areas:

1. The PNRA plans to set up Cashew Development Centers (CeDeCa). CORAF is expected to help train industry players, particularly researchers, in the Integrated Agricultural Research for Development (IAR4D) approach and innovation platforms. The training is scheduled to take place in Yamoussoukro, Côte d'Ivoire.
2. The PNRA is planning to set up a Cashew Center of Excellence (CEC). In this respect, CORAF is expected to provide technical support (follow-up and advice) for the setting up of the CEC.

"CORAF will support the PNRA in achieving its objectives. With the transfer of skills and technologies that CORAF is encouraging, Côte d'Ivoire's achievements will undoubtedly benefit other countries in the sub-region, to ensure the cashew nut industry flourishes," confided Dr TENKOUANO.

The cashew nut industry is one of the main agricultural sectors in Côte d'Ivoire.

According to data from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Côte d'Ivoire topped world production of unshelled mahogany nuts in 2020, with 848,700 tonnes, ahead of India, which produced 772,779 tonnes, and far ahead of Africa's second-largest producer, Burundi, with 300,910 tonnes.