Rabat — The African Plant Nutrition Institute (APNI), a Moroccan non-profit research and development organization based in Benguerir, has forged a new partnership with Côte d’Ivoire’s Ministry of Technical Education, Vocational Training, and Apprenticeship to revolutionize agricultural education and boost food security across the West African country.
Kaushik Majumdar, APNI’s Director General, signed the agreement on Monday with Minister N’Guessan Koffi and Deputy Cabinet Director N’Goran Kouakou Jean-Arnaud in Côte d’Ivoire’s political capital.
The collaboration aims to modernize agricultural education and create lasting improvements for rural communities throughout the African country. Officials from both organizations believe the partnership will help address food shortages while creating new opportunities for young farmers.
“With APNI, we are starting a real agricultural revolution,” Minister Koffi said during the signing ceremony.
“Time for the results to be seen on the field. Together, let’s fight food shortages by cultivating all year round. This partnership makes it possible.”
Comprehensive agricultural training program
The partnership will focus on several key areas to transform agricultural education in Côte d’Ivoire. APNI will provide technical support to agricultural vocational high schools, technical high schools, and farm field schools under the ministry’s oversight.
The Moroccan research organization will also help revise existing curricula and develop new educational programs. Officials plan to organize specialized workshops on plant nutrition and create educational modules that align with updated curriculum standards.
Youth training sits at the heart of their strategy, Majumdar stressed, explaining that the partnership will focus on “training of the youth to build capacity for entrepreneurship in modernizing agriculture and service delivery to farmers.”
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The APNI director general outlined how the collaboration will support farmers in adopting “digital and advanced technologies for enhanced crop productivity and access to markets.” He pointed out the importance of applying best practices in crop management, including seed selection, water management, nutrient application, and pest control.
Addressing rural challenges
Minister Koffi envisions the partnership creating prosperous rural communities with less demanding agricultural work and increased income opportunities. Officials believe these improvements will help reduce poverty and slow rural migration to urban areas.
Majumdar stressed that the partnership will focus on “bringing entrepreneurial opportunities through enhanced value chains” as a key strategy for transformational change in the agricultural sector.
The collaboration comes as Côte d’Ivoire seeks to modernize its agricultural practices and improve food security. Officials hope the partnership will help farmers adapt to climate change while increasing land productivity and farm profitability.
Through this new partnership with Côte d’Ivoire’s technical education ministry, APNI hopes to contribute to the country’s vision of creating prosperous rural communities through modern agricultural technologies and digital transformation.