Côte d’Ivoire’s digital farming school to open in January 2025

COTE D’VOIRE – The much-anticipated Digital Farming School (DFS) in Yamoussoukro, Côte d’Ivoire, will now open in January 2025, a delay from its original September 2024 schedule.

This new date follows a recent meeting among the project’s key partners, including the National Polytechnic Institute Félix Houphouët-Boigny (INP-HB), the Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P), Moroccan group Office Chérifien des Phosphates (OCP Africa), and the Ivorian government.

The meeting finalized essential details such as governance structures and pedagogical content, ensuring the school will be well-positioned to impact the agricultural sector significantly.

The partners also toured the construction site, which is in the final stages at the INP-HB technology park.

When it opens, the DFS will be Africa’s first institution dedicated to digital agriculture and entrepreneurship.

OCP Africa CEO Mohamed Anouar Jamali expressed confidence in the school’s potential, stating, “We are confident that our graduates will significantly influence the modernization of agriculture in Africa.”

The DFS is set to make a substantial impact on Côte d’Ivoire’s fresh produce sector. It aims to produce highly skilled professionals who are adept in digital tools and modern farming technologies.

Students will gain practical experience through an experimental farm, which will allow them to apply their knowledge in real-world settings. This practical application is crucial for mastering best practices and improving farming techniques.

By integrating digital technologies, the school hopes to help farmers enhance crop yields, manage resources more efficiently, and reduce post-harvest losses.

These advancements are expected to boost overall productivity and profitability within the sector. Additionally, the DFS will focus on fostering entrepreneurship among its graduates, supporting the creation of new agribusiness ventures and innovative solutions in the fresh produce market.

The establishment of the DFS reflects Côte d’Ivoire’s commitment to advancing agricultural productivity and sustainability.

This initiative aligns with broader goals to improve the agricultural sector and will also be the first branch of UM6P in sub-Saharan Africa, following a similar institution opened in Paris last January.

The DFS project began with a partnership between Côte d’Ivoire and OCP Africa in March 2022, with construction starting a year later.

The upcoming opening of the school marks a significant milestone in the development of agricultural education and practices in Africa.

Sign up to receive our email newsletters with the latest news updates and insights from Africa and the World HERE.