Agriculture is one of Côte d'Ivoire's major economic sectors, and the world's biggest cocoa and cashew producer has been multiplying efforts to foster partnerships and develop this sector.

The Ivorian capital, Yamoussokro, will house a prestigious digital farming school in the coming months. The project was officially kicked off last Friday, June 9, by OCP Africa and Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P).

The new school will, according to the Minister of Higher Education, Adama Diawara, "produce high-quality human resources who will support the country's development, by tackling agricultural issues with innovative solutions, creating jobs for our graduates, and boosting entrepreneurship.

OCP Africa & @UM6P_officiel posent la 1ère pierre de la #Digital #Farming School à Yamoussoukro, en collaboration avec @inphbpolytech. Avec son approche pédagogique axée sur du Peer Learning et du Learning by farming, cette école, 1ère du genre en Afrique, sera adossée à une… pic.twitter.com/TmOfDxL014

— OCP AFRICA (@OCP_Africa) June 9, 2023

The upcoming school is valued at $4.9 million and is expected to open in the next 10-12 months. It wil be the first of its kind in Côte d’Ivoire.

The first batch of trainees should regroup 100 young AgriTech enthusiasts, according to a press release issued by OCP Africa. They will learn how to use digital tools and new farming technologies.

Also, the school will be attached to an experimental farm where the trainees will be able to put in practice and share what they learn.

The project is one of Morocco's many significant projects in Côte d'Ivoire - Projects initiated by King Mohammed VI, to bolster cooperation between the two nations.

For Côte d'Ivoire, however, the new digital farming school results from the government's efforts to develop agriculture. A sector, which, according to the African Development Bank (AfDB) is set to grow by 6.7% in 2022-2023.

Samira Njoya