The Rubber-Oil Palm-Coconut Council (CHPC), supported by FIRCA and the Ministry of Agriculture, brought together stakeholders in the coconut sector in Aboisso. The objective was to raise awareness and train them in the establishment of an Interprofessional Agricultural Organization (OIA).

This initiative is part of the order adopted on February 12, 2025 by the Ivorian government, which extends to the coconut sector the regulations and controls already applied to the rubber and oil palm sectors.

The challenges of the future interprofessional organization

According to Laurent Traoré, representing the CEO of CHPC, the creation of this OIA aims primarily to unite the entire value chain (producers, processors and traders) in order to:

1. Better defend the common interests of the industry.
2. To structure the sector sustainably.
3. Establish a permanent framework for consultation with the State.
4. Deploy a recovery plan to pull the sector out of the difficulties that have persisted since its privatization.

“The State intends to support this process [...] in order to define strategies for reviving a sector facing numerous difficulties.” – Laurent Traoré, CHPC.

Strong support from local stakeholders

The meeting provided training for participants on two essential aspects, facilitated

By Coulibaly Fanta and Abel Bosso:

1. The legal framework for OIAs.
2. Their organizational structure.

In response to this initiative, local authorities have shown their full support. Patrice Goda Amani (Regional Director of Agriculture) and Assi Abenon Firmin (Secretary General of the Prefecture, representing the Regional Prefect) have both urged stakeholders to structure their groups in order to fully seize the opportunities offered by the State.

For their part, industry professionals enthusiastically welcomed the initiative, seeing it as the ideal way to revive the coconut sector from decades of stagnation. They expressed their readiness to actively participate in the process.

Next steps

The awareness campaign does not stop there. The CHPC teams will continue their mission in the South-Comoé region, particularly in Tiapoum and Ettuéboué , while other delegations are currently deployed in the various coconut production areas across Côte d'Ivoire.