HortiFresh has been launched in Ivory Coast to commence activities in the fruit sector. The launch of the programme which coincided with the West Africa Agrofood fair took place on Tuesday November 20 at Radisson Blu Hotel. At the occasion the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr. Mamadou Sangafowa COULIBALY and the Netherlands Ambassador to Ivory Coast, H.E. Mr. Robert van den Dool, cut a cake to officially launch the programme.

At the event, the Business and Technical Advisor of the programme for Cote d’Ivoire, Mr. Coulibaly Moussa presented the core activities, which include the support for innovative business ideas of small and medium enterprises and the development of strong horticulture cluster in mango production areas. Through these activities the programme wants to reach at least 15,000 smallholder farmers by 2021, with a 20% increase in their productivity.

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr. Mamadou Sangafowa COULIBALY during his allocution  said, “Ivory Coast is delighted to welcome the HortiFresh programme and give it the necessary support for a successful implementation. He explained that the collaboration among the Ministry of Agriculture, the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the HortiFresh Programme,  will be profitable  to the fruit  sector. He is optimistic of seeing an improved business climate and professionalised fruit value chain at the end of the programme’’.

Like Ghana, a Call for Concept Notes has been announced inviting small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to submit innovative business ideas that promote the sustainable uptake of inputs like quality seeds, irrigation equipment and the provision of agronomic services, like professional spray and extension advisory services. The full call for concept notes can be found at: https://www.hortifresh.org/notes-conceptuelles/?lang=fr

The launch attracted an immense interest from actors for further collaborations and submission of concept notes for consideration and funding support. About 130 actors from the fruit value chain attended the event.