Agriculture/Sustainable Development: Côte d'Ivoire Aims to Reclaim its Position as Africa's Leading Coconut Producer

 Faced with a dramatic decline in its coconut production, which dropped from 406,000 tons in 1986 to 125,565 tons in 2024 (a 70% decrease), Côte d'Ivoire has fallen from first to fifth place on the continent. In response, the country organized an international summit on the revival of the coconut sector, held from September 9 to 10, 2024, in Abidjan-Cocody.

Initiated by the Abidjan Legacy Program (ALP) in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development, and Food Production, the summit was attended by Justice and Human Rights Minister Sansan Kambilé, representing Minister Kobenan Kouassi Adjoumani, as well as Youth, Professional Integration, and Civic Service Minister Mamadou Touré.

The event brought together several participants, including coconut experts from Cameroon, Indonesia, Ghana, Nigeria, and France. Development partners such as the African Development Bank (AfDB), the World Bank, IFAD, UNDP, UNEP, CIRAD, FAO, and the British Embassy in Côte d'Ivoire were also represented.

High-level panels enriched the discussions, proposing solutions for the sector's revival and exploring financing opportunities.

Several resolutions were adopted at the end of the summit. A steering committee, led by the Abidjan Legacy Program, was created to ensure the implementation of these resolutions.