A recent feasibility assessment commissioned by GUDE-PME (Guichet Unique de Développement des PME) concludes that Côte d’Ivoire has the agro-ecological potential and market conditions to develop a local potato value chain. The findings point to concrete opportunities for Dutch seed potato suppliers, agribusinesses, and knowledge institutions to contribute to this emerging sector.
Current situation: almost entirely import-dependent
Côte d’Ivoire currently imports virtually all potatoes consumed domestically. According to FAOSTAT, potato imports reached approximately 62,140 tons in 2022, valued at around USD 12 million, with the Netherlands among the main supplying countries alongside Egypt, Morocco, Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso. Frozen potato imports added a further USD 2 million. Local production remains negligible despite growing urban demand driven by changing food habits and rapid urbanization.
Fig. 1: Volume and value of potatoes and frozen potatoes imported to Cote d’Ivoire between 2012 and 2022 (FAOSTAT).
An estimated 3,000 hectares of domestic production — at yields of 20 tons per hectare — would be required to fully substitute current imports. Developing this capacity represents both an import substitution opportunity for Côte d’Ivoire and a potential market development opportunity for Dutch seed potato and Agri-input suppliers.
Agro-ecological potential in the North
The assessment, carried out by EUCORD (European Cooperative for Rural Development) in May 2024, found that northern Côte d’Ivoire offers suitable conditions for potato cultivation during the Harmattan season (November–February). Zones including Korhogo, Ferkessédougou, Odienné, Touba, and parts of Bouaké offer the cooler dry-season temperatures, diurnal temperature variation, and existing irrigation infrastructure that potato cultivation requires.
Key agronomic requirements identified include: well-drained soils, reliable irrigation, crop rotation, and — critically — early-maturing, heat-tolerant varieties suited to local conditions. Promising varieties mentioned in the report include Arizona, Paradiso, Claudia, Desiree, Kondor, Baraka, and Maradona, several of which have Dutch origins.
Economic viability and the role of seed potatoes
Potato cultivation is capital-intensive, with seed potatoes alone accounting for approximately 50% of total production costs. Based on comparable experience in Guinea, total production costs can reach around 4.25 million FCFA per hectare. Profitability depends on achieving yields above 15 tons per hectare; yields of 18–25 tons per hectare can generate attractive returns when market systems are well organized.
The dependence on imported seed is both the sector’s main cost driver and its key entry point for Dutch commercial engagement. As the world’s leading seed potato exporter, the Netherlands is well positioned to supply certified seed material and to bring varietal expertise and technical knowledge to the Ivorian context.
Institutional interest and Dutch engagement
Several Ivorian institutions have expressed interest in supporting potato sector development, including GUDE-PME, CNRA (the national agricultural research center), ANADER (the extension service), FIRCA, producer federations, and private companies. This institutional engagement creates a supportive environment for structured Dutch–Ivorian cooperation.
The report stresses that profitability depends heavily on achieving good yields. Yields below 15 tons per hectare are unlikely to be profitable under current production costs, while yields between 18 and 25 tons per hectare can generate attractive returns.
Experience from Guinea and Mali show that potato production can be profitable once farmers master agronomic practices and market systems are well organized.
Recommended next steps and cooperation entry points
The EUCORD assessment recommends a phased approach, starting with a pilot project of 50–100 hectares in northern Côte d’Ivoire. This would include multi-location varietal trials, farmer training, input financing, irrigation support, and market linkage development. Exchange visits to successful potato projects in Guinea and Mali are also proposed to accelerate learning.
For Dutch companies and knowledge institutions, the recommended entry points include:
- Seed potato supply: Supplying certified seed to pilot projects and longer-term commercial supply chains
- Variety development and trials: Collaboration with CNRA on adaptive trials to identify and register suitable varieties
- Agri-input supply: Fertilizers, crop protection products, and biological inputs adapted to local conditions
- Storage and post-harvest solutions: Cold chain and storage technology suited to smallholder and cooperative contexts
- Knowledge and capacity building: Technical training and extension support, building on Dutch expertise in potato agronomy
More information
This article is based on the EUCORD feasibility assessment “Développement de la filière pomme de terre en Côte d’Ivoire” (in French), commissioned by GUDE-PME, May 2024.
This article was written by: Niels Hanssens: nhanssens@eucord.org.
For more information please contact the Netherlands Agricultural Network at the Dutch Embassy in Abidjan: abi-lvvn@minbuza.nl