Côte d’Ivoire has launched a five-year plan to strengthen the fisheries and aquaculture sector, in a context of high dependence on imports of fishery products. Local supply now covers only a small part of national demand, while consumption is growing rapidly, especially in urban areas.
Called ProDeCAP, the Project for the Development of Competitive Value Chains in Aquaculture and Sustainable Fisheries was officially launched on March 26th. Implemented over five years with the support of the FAO, it aims to increase the sector’s contribution to the economy, employment and food security. The project has a budget of approximately EUR 28.5 million, mainly financed by the African Development Bank, with the participation of the Ivorian State.
The planned actions concern better sustainable management of fisheries resources, the development of aquaculture and the strengthening of value chains, from production to marketing. The program will target both coastal and continental water bodies. Eventually, the authorities hope to sharply increase aquaculture production in order to reduce the use of imports and support the revenues of local actors, in a sector that has been facing a decline in production and many structural challenges for several years.
source : Team France
