Côte d’Ivoire is seeking to deepen its cooperation with the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) as the government intensifies efforts to strengthen food security, improve nutrition and boost agricultural productivity.

The country's Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Food Crops, Bruno Nabagné Koné, met on Tuesday with a WFP delegation led by Regional Director Kinday Ndella Samba to discuss the country's agricultural priorities and opportunities for enhanced collaboration.

During the meeting, the two sides exchanged views on strategies to improve food and nutrition security while promoting local agricultural production, a key objective of the Ivorian government's development agenda.

On a working visit to Côte d’Ivoire, Kinday Ndella Samba reaffirmed the WFP's commitment to supporting the country's efforts to build a more resilient and sustainable food system.

Minister Bruno Nabagné Koné outlined five key priorities guiding the government's agricultural policy. These include strengthening food security and food sovereignty, improving the competitiveness of agricultural value chains, expanding access to financing for farmers and agribusinesses, securing rural land tenure, and promoting sustainable production systems.

The discussions come as Côte d’Ivoire seeks to leverage its agricultural sector as a major driver of economic growth and structural transformation. Agriculture remains a cornerstone of the country's economy, employing a large share of the workforce and contributing significantly to national exports.

The renewed engagement with the WFP highlights the government's determination to address food security challenges while supporting long-term agricultural development and rural prosperity.