A few days ago, the Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Food Production, Bruno Nabagné Koné, launched the interim program for the development of the oil palm and coconut sectors in Grand-Béréby. This initiative marks the desire of the highest Ivorian authorities to reposition the country among the world's main producers and processors of oil palm and coconut. According to Bruno Nabagné Koné, this interim program constitutes a pilot phase whose success must lay the foundations for a more effective and large-scale implementation of the strategies currently in preparation. The Minister underlined that the sectors face major structural challenges, such as the low productivity of orchards and the difficulties of access to village plantations which have long hampered their development. The coconut sector, which has remained on the sidelines of major national agricultural investments for too long, now benefits from direct control by the State. 100,000 hectares of new coconut orchards within 10 years, as part of a national strategy currently being developed. Bruno Koné highlighted the advances in agronomic research, which have made it possible to develop new varieties making it possible to establish the coconut tree in several regions of the country where it was until now absent. This scientific breakthrough opens, according to him, real economic prospects for Ivorian producers.

Oil palm, a budget of 1,077 billion CFA francs

For oil palm, the Minister announced a new development support strategy with a overall funding of 1,077 billion CFA francs. Government objectives cover access to fertilizers and certified plants to improve yields, improvement of agricultural service roads as well as access to credit for producers. This announcement comes in the presence of Félix Anoblé, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Hévéa-Palmier à Huile-Coconut Council (CHPC), who himself called on stakeholders in the sector to guarantee the quality of the plants and accelerate local processing.