The strategy for developing food crop agriculture is part of the overall vision of the Ivorian government, which aims to achieve: "A sustainable, competitive Ivorian agriculture that creates wealth equitably shared" and to comply with Goal No. 2 of the Sustainable Development Goals, which calls on countries to eradicate hunger and all forms of malnutrition.

This strategy is based on grouping regions into Agro-Poles (or zones) based on agro-ecological, administrative, and socio-economic criteria.

The grouping according to agro-ecological criteria allows crops that require similar climatic conditions to be prioritized in the same areas, thereby facilitating the choice of crops at the local level.

Thus, nine (9) Agro-Poles have been identified based on these groupings. The map below illustrates the proposed zoning and the food crops concerned.

 

The Agro-Poles of food crop agriculture

Zone	Food crops concerned
Agro-Pole 1	Corn, Rice, Onion
Agro-Pole 2	Yam, Vegetables
Agro-Pole 3	Cassava, Plantain Banana, Vegetables
Agro-Pole 4	Yam, Cassava, Rice
Agro-Pole 5	Rice, Vegetables, Cassava
Agro-Pole 6	Yam, Cassava, Rice
Agro-Pole 7	Cassava, Plantain Banana, Rice
Agro-Pole 8	Rice, Corn
Agro-Pole 9	Rice, Cassava

 

• Cereal crops

The main cereals produced by Côte d'Ivoire are, in order, paddy rice, corn, sorghum, and millet.

The production of corn, millet, and sorghum has shown average annual growth rates of 8.0%, 1.8%, and 2.5%, respectively, between 2015 and 2023.

As for rice, one of the main staple foods, its production decreased by an average of 7.2% annually between 2015 and 2020. This decline is due, among other factors, to the insufficient supply of improved seeds, the limited capacity of processing units, and inadequate financing of the paddy sector.

However, a recovery has been observed starting in 2020, with an average annual increase of 10.7% between 2020 and 2023, thanks to the reforms undertaken, notably an expansion of the cultivated areas and intensification with better productivity (average yield increased from 2.33 tons/hectare to 2.78 tons/hectare).

Source: MEMINADERPV, ADERIZ

 

• Tubers and plantains

The main tubers produced in Côte d'Ivoire are, in order, yam, cassava, and plantain banana, which recorded average annual growth rates of 1.5%, 9.2%, and 1.1%, respectively, between 2015 and 2023.

Côte d'Ivoire also produces sweet potatoes and taro, which have progressed at average annual rates of 2.4% and 1.1% from 2015 to 2023, respectively.

Source: MEMINADERPV, DSDI

 

• Vegetable and legume crops

The main vegetable crops produced in Côte d'Ivoire are okra, eggplant, and tomato.

From 2015 to 2021, the production of okra, eggplant, and tomato increased at average annual rates of 4.0%, 1.9%, and 4.0%, respectively.

However, in 2022, the production of okra and eggplant decreased by 58.8% and 18.1%, respectively, compared to 2021. This situation is explained by the attacks of "jassids" (pest insects) that occurred in July 2022 in the cotton basin. The production of okra and eggplant rebounded in 2023 with respective increases of 115% and 34% due to the control of the "jassid" invasion.

As for peanuts, the main legume in Côte d'Ivoire, its production increased between 2015 and 2023 at an average annual rate of 5.6%.

Source: MEMINADERPV, DSDI

 

• Perspectives

Looking ahead, in order to ensure food security, the government aims to: (i) increase the production of rice, corn, and cassava through the strengthening of agricultural production techniques, particularly by improving access to appropriate agricultural advice; (ii) improve vulnerable households' access to food; and (iii) organize food security reserves by establishing an institutional framework for managing food reserves and food security storage infrastructures.

The government's interventions will also consist of improving access to quality inputs by establishing and enhancing seed processing and storage infrastructures, as well as strengthening the control system for production, marketing, and use of inputs.

 

Reference documents:

Strategic Guidelines PND 2021-2025, Volume 2

Report PNIA II, September 2017

Agricultural Statistics Yearbook 2019 - 2021