Côte d'Ivoire distributes CFA 2.8 billion in agricultural inputs and machinery to boost food production in the north

The Ivorian government has stepped up efforts to modernize its agricultural sector by distributing agricultural inputs and mechanized farming equipment worth a combined CFA 2.8 billion (about $4.9 million) to farmers in four northern regions of the country.

The distribution ceremony, held on Saturday in Tengréla, was led by Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Food Crops Bruno Nabagné Koné as part of the Northern Agro-Industrial Pole Project (2PAI-NORD) and the Food Crop Sector Development Support Project (PADSV).

The assistance will benefit 360 agricultural producer organizations, representing around 6,000 farmers, the majority of whom are women and young people, across the regions of Bagoué, Hambol, Poro and Tchologo.

The package includes CFA 838 million worth of agricultural inputs, comprising 770 tonnes of fertilizer, 127 tonnes of improved rice and maize seeds, as well as crop protection products. It also includes CFA 2 billion in mechanization equipment, including tractors, power tillers and combine harvesters, aimed at expanding access to modern farming technologies.

Speaking at the ceremony, Koné said the initiative is designed to reduce the physical burden of farm work while making mechanization more accessible to small-scale producers. He said the equipment would help improve productivity, increase yields and strengthen the competitiveness of food crop production in northern Côte d'Ivoire.

The minister described northern Côte d'Ivoire as a strategic agricultural zone, noting that it covers nearly 26% of the country's territory and is home to more than 2.7 million people. He said the region plays a central role in the government's ambition to achieve greater food sovereignty under the National Development Plan (PND) 2026–2030 and the third generation of the National Agricultural Investment Programme (PNIA).

The 2PAI-NORD project is supported by several international development partners, led by the African Development Bank (AfDB), alongside the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID) and the OPEC Fund for International Development. Their support is intended to strengthen agricultural infrastructure, expand mechanization and improve the resilience and productivity of the country's food production systems.

The latest distribution forms part of Côte d'Ivoire's broader strategy to modernize agriculture, improve food security and increase rural incomes by promoting greater use of technology and enhancing the performance of smallholder farmers.