Tropentag, September 10 - 12, 2025, Bonn "Reconciling land system changes with planetary health"

Agriculture technologies for a resilient crop and livestock production system in West Africa

¹West and Central Africa Council for Research and Development (CORAF), Directorate of Research and Innovation, Senegal
²West and Central Africa Council for Research and Development (CORAF), Directorate of Research and Innovation
³West and Central Africa Council for Research and Development (CORAF), Directorate of Research and Innovation
⁴West and Central Africa Council for Research and Development (CORAF), Directorate of Research and Innovation, Senegal
⁵West and Central Africa Council for Research and Development (CORAF), Senegal
⁶West and Central Africa Council for Research and Development (CORAF), Senegal

Abstract

The West Africa food system is highly challenged due to; climate change, land degradation, pests and diseases, limited access to modern agricultural technologies, extension services finance, etc. Productivity is thus low leading to heavy reliance on food imports, weak exchange rates, unemployment, poor livelihoods and food insecurity. Agriculture research efforts over the years thus have been geared towards building a resilient food system through the development of several crop and animal technologies. These developed technologies are climate smart and responsive to biotic (pest and disease) and abiotic stress (salinity and drought) for efficient resource use production systems. West Africa is thus ready and capable of building a resilient food system given the massive technologies developed by national agriculture research institutes and the ability of these technologies to increase productivity when effectively deployed. The challenge however has been the limited access to these technologies by end users due to weak extension systems and low private sector participation. The introduction of agriculture technology parks by the West and Central Africa Council for Agriculture Research and Development has therefore become the game changer as a promising scaling tool deployed in nine countries. Through strategic partnerships, massive awareness has been created and partnership agreements signed with relevant stakeholders to make these technologies adequately accessible to end users. This paper therefore highlights the concept of agriculture technology parks and its ability to bring technology closer to end users through effective partnership with private sector and other stakeholders. It concludes by highlighting the ability of the sub-region to develop a resilient food system given the right policy environment and support.

Keywords: Agriculture, food systems, partnership, reseach, resilient, technology, west africa

Contact Address: Jonas Osei-Adu, West and Central Africa Council for Research and Development (CORAF), Directorate of Research and Innovation, Dakar, Senegal, e-mail: j.oseiaducoraf.org