The vegetable value chain plays an essential role in Côte d’Ivoire’s agricultural landscape. With more than 2.5 million people involved—most of them women—it contributes nearly 14.7% of the national GDP and represents a major lever for food security, rural employment and household incomes. Despite this strategic importance, the sector remains characterized by structural fragmentation, heterogeneous organization and the absence of a formal framework to effectively coordinate public and private interventions.
Beeld: © LAN Côte d’Ivoire
Discussions during the workshop in Yamoussoukro
A strategic value chain at the heart of Côte d’Ivoire’s food security
The Hortivoire project has enabled the training of young producers, the dissemination of sustainable horticultural practices and the establishment of the Ivorian–Dutch Horticultural Centre of Excellence MOYÉ, which has now become a recognized hub for innovation and professionalization. However, in order to consolidate this momentum and address the identified challenges, a national study was conducted to propose a governance model adapted to the realities of the value chain.
A national study to structure sector governance
The Dutch firm Fair & Sustainable Consulting was recruited to conduct a feasibility study aimed at creating a national horticultural governance structure. The study was carried out in two phases: an initial literature review and benchmarking exercise focusing on East Africa—renowned for its horticultural performance—followed by in-depth field observations and more than fifty (50) consultations with key stakeholders.
Beeld: © LAN Côte d’Ivoire
Comparison of horticultural authorities in different African countries
The study highlighted the sector’s priority needs and the mechanisms best suited to the Ivorian horticultural context to improve governance. It confirms that, although central to the agricultural economy, the vegetable value chain remains highly fragmented from an organizational standpoint. Stakeholders expressed strong expectations for better coordination, a shared vision and structured dialogue platforms.
The report recommends an inclusive and evolving governance model, bringing together the State, the private sector, professional organizations and technical partners, with a gradual rollout across three horticultural zones: South, Centre and North.
Beeld: © LAN Côte d’Ivoire
Proposed structure of the public-private partnership for the horticultural sector in Côte d’Ivoire
A decisive national workshop in Yamoussoukro
On 27 November 2025, a restitution workshop brought together around 30 sector representatives in Yamoussoukro. Organized by the Ivorian firm DOMNY SARL with the support of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the workshop provided an opportunity to present the study’s findings, discuss its recommendations, gather stakeholders’ contributions and validate the orientations of the future structure.
The workshop helped clarify the organizational architecture of a future Horticultural Governance Structure, which would be built around four (4) complementary levels:
- General Assembly, the supreme decision-making body responsible for defining overall orientations and validating strategic choices;
- Board of Directors, in charge of preparing decisions, ensuring strategic oversight and appointing the Executive Directorate;
- Executive Directorate, responsible for operational implementation and coordination of activities;
- Stakeholder colleges (producers, processors and traders), ensuring balanced representation and active participation of stakeholders.
The system would be complemented by regional delegates responsible for territorial anchoring and information flow. In the longer term, the establishment of a Supervisory Board, composed exclusively of public-sector representatives, was envisaged to strengthen transparency, accountability and alignment with national policies.
Its potential mandate would focus on the development and professionalization of the value chain, structured around five (5) priority areas:
- Structuring and professionalizing stakeholder organizations through producer registration, strengthening cooperatives and improving value chain operations, in order to enhance sector credibility and improve planning.
- Improving access to inputs and irrigation solutions, a major challenge shared across all production zones, in order to increase yields and stabilize volumes.
- Strengthening sustainable agricultural practices through technical training, optimized input management and the adoption of appropriate technologies (an action identified as delivering quick impact based on impact/effort analysis).
- Reducing post-harvest losses and improving logistics through the development of appropriate infrastructure, collection centers, quality standards and transport solutions, with the aim of enhancing the sector’s competitiveness vis-à-vis imports.
- Developing a progressive financial model, based on blended financing involving the State, the private sector, technical and financial partners, as well as appropriate guarantee and credit mechanisms.
Beeld: © LAN Côte d’Ivoire
Opening of the workshop by Ben Kubbinga, Agricultural Counsellor of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
Strengthened Ivorian–Dutch partnership at national “laboratory” in Yamoussoukro
The idea that came out of the workshop is to start with a pilot phase Belier region – where the first “Agropole” has been set up – and, more specifically, in Yamoussoukro District: an attractive starting point because of its central geographic location and the concentration of structuring horticultural initiatives. The Ivorian–Dutch Horticultural Centre of Excellence MOYÉ could be positioned as a true national laboratory, serving as a hub for coordination, training and experimentation, as well as a focal point for the Ivorian–Dutch partnership.
The proposed pilot phase aims to rapidly generate quick wins demonstrating the value added of the new governance framework, through targeted technical training, an operational coordination platform, stakeholder registration, pilot solutions to reduce post-harvest losses and the positioning of the MOYÉ Centre as a governance hub.
To ensure an effective start-up, the workshop recommended the rapid establishment of a Transitional Steering Committee tasked with supporting the development of the legal framework, coordinating stakeholders and preparing the official launch of the future structure.
Beeld: © LAN Côte d’Ivoire
Field visit at MOYÉ after the workshop
Towards a new era: a structured, inclusive and competitive horticulture
The establishment of a national horticultural governance structure would represent a decisive step for Côte d’Ivoire. It responds to a collective aspiration to build a vegetable value chain that is organized, resilient, innovative and value-creating.
With the continued support of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the strong commitment of national stakeholders, this new governance framework could become a catalyst for sustainable transformation benefiting producers, young people, women and, more broadly, Ivorian society as a whole.
More information
Interested to know more or get involved? Please contact us for more information at abi-lvvn@minbuza.nl.
Author: Nabyoullah DOSSO (DOMNY)