This presentation was delivered by Dr. Niéyidouba Lamien

1. By Dr. Niéyidouba LAMIEN
CORAF
Overview of farming
systems in WCA:
challenges and potential
Agricultural Production Systems in West and Central Africa:
Insights to enhance Data and Technological Advancement
AKADEMIYA2063-CORAF Virtual Regional Learning Event, July 6th, 2021

2. Presentation Outline
1
• Socio economic and biophysical characteristics of WCA
farming systems
2
• Key challenges of the farming system of WCA
3
• Potential for boosting agriculture in WC
4
• CORAF framework for R&D including digitization in WCA
5
• Conclusions

3. Overview of WCA
❑ Approximately 552 million people live in WCA, the
majority living in rural areas as smallholders
farmers.
❑ Rural poverty is widespread and concentrated among
women and young people.
❑ Agriculture is important to the West and Central
African economy, providing 30-50 per cent of gross
domestic product (GDP) in most countries and
income and livelihoods for 70-80 per cent of the
population.
❑ Diverse food systems continue to evolve in meeting
consumption demand with a view to sustaining
the natural resource base
Source: RPCA 2021, based on Cadre harmonise analysis, regional concertation meeting,
Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, March 2021; map: © CILSS

4. Major agroecologies of
WCA/CORAF zones

5. 8 Major farming systems including
Urban and peri-urban in WCA

7. Main characteristics of agriculture in
WCA
Heavy reliance on rain-fed
production systems
Small-holder farmers and
farms
Limited access to markets
Natural methods of soil fertility maintenance

8. Key protracted challenges in
WCA
➢ Poor soils and drought
➢ Pests and Diseases
➢ Low mechanization
➢ Unimproved cultural practices
In 1964, Lake Chad measured 25,000 square
kilometers. Its size has, however, shrunk to a
mere 5 % of its original size.
➢ Climate change
➢ Inadequate enabling policy environment
➢ Natural resources degradation

9. Potential for boosting agriculture
in WCA
Only 10% of 10 million ha of
irrigable land being exploited
Three quarters of the region’s
population is under the age of 35.
Large number of appropriate
technologies
Only 25% of global cultivable land
being utilized

11. Regional centers of specialization
ensuring appropriate research and
capacity building
High yielding Rice varieties High yielding Cassava varieties Animal improved breeds Catfish Production
Mechanical cassava harvester Seed Calibrator Maize Couscous
Composite bread with 15%
either millet, maize or cassava
flour
188 technologies released along the Value chains

12. Experience in advancing use of modern
tools for data collection
Fertilizer and Seeds Recommendation
Map (FeSeRWAM) for producers,
traders in agricultural inputs, fertilizer
manufacturers and blenders, public and
private extension services, and
researchers, as well as NGOs to access
information and make queries
www.mita.coraf.org
https://feserwam.org/.
https://coraf.delta-monitoring.com/
Platform for countries data
uploading and downloading for
Monitoring and Evaluation
1-Runing of online platforms

13. Experience in advancing use of modern
tools for data collection
2-Coming soon
1. Application for digital survey in CORAF’s countries
2. Integrated Digital Agricultural Platform to:
➢provide access to information or advisory services
➢enable the procurement of agricultural inputs
➢support better visibility of market prices and demand
➢open up new opportunities such as digital payments, credit and insurance

14. Conclusion
➢ FS dynamics requires permanent data collection to inform
decision making
➢ Cheaper modern tools for data collection exist now
➢ CORAF & AKADEMYA envisage to jointly take advantage
of these tools

15. Obrigado
Merci
Thank you