Emergence of a Potato value chain in Ivory Coast (EPIC)

Goal

To improve Ivorian smallholder farmers’revenues through the introduction of high yielding potato varieties and best production and marketing practices.

What we do

Local potato production in Cote d’Ivoire is currently negligeable, while growing domestic demand is covered by imports. In 2024, EUCORD carried out an assessment to analyze the potential for developing a local potato value chain. The core finding was that there is strong interest in developing potato production in the country, but there is a lack of sustained initiatives to develop the crop. Under the right conditions and with application of good agricultural practices, potato farming can be a viable agricultural activity in Cote d’Ivoire.

The aim of this pilot project is to focus on the introduction of high yielding potato varieties, best practices, and market linkages. Once the profitability of potato production is demonstrated to farmers, the value chain will be established and can be extended to a larger number of farmers.

The project will have the following three specific objectives:

• Increase availability of potato seed varieties for farmers
• Technical support popularizing promising varieties to potato farmers
• Facilitate market linkages