The West and Central African Council for Agricultural Research and Development (CORAF) intends to strengthen the leadership of Innovation Platforms (IPs) in countries and at the regional network level. This approach, which CORAF has tested in several countries as part of projects to disseminate the results of agricultural research, strengthens collaboration between government organisations, NGOs, private companies, universities and local farmers.
As part of the implementation of the West African food system resilience programme (PRSA/FSRP), CORAF intends to contribute to the inclusion of innovation platforms in training programmes and curricula in West Africa.
To this end, a study has been commissioned to examine the feasibility of this vision. From 3 to 5 April 2024 in Ouagadougou, stakeholders and partners in the agricultural world were invited to report on the results of this study with a view to moving on to the stage of developing training curricula to be implemented in agricultural training institutions and centres.
Agricultural innovation platforms in West Africa have emerged as essential catalysts for the region's agricultural development.
These are physical hubs or centres where farmers, entrepreneurs, researchers and other players in the agricultural sector meet to share ideas, access training and resources, and develop innovative solutions. IPs support agricultural start-ups by providing space, mentoring, training, funding and other resources to develop their ideas and products.
Innovation Platforms play a crucial role in promoting innovation, productivity and sustainability in West Africa's agricultural sector, helping farmers to meet the challenges and seize the opportunities of a rapidly changing environment.
