The decline in the agricultural workforce in West Africa poses a major threat to food security in the region, warns a new publication in the ‘Droit de savoir’ series, released by the Centre Suisse de Recherche Scientifique en Côte d’Ivoire (CSRS), Afrique One and their partners.
Entitled ‘Agricultural transition: the human factor, the blind spot in the food system’, the document highlights a gradual but structural decline in the availability of agricultural workers in the region.
According to the authors, several factors account for this trend, including increased school enrolment, rural depopulation, the ageing of farmers, and the growing appeal of alternative activities such as gold panning or urban services. This development is leading to higher labour costs and difficulties in recruiting workers during key periods of the agricultural season.
The paper highlights that this shortage has direct consequences for production: delays in agricultural work, lower yields, and increased reliance on alternative practices, such as the use of herbicides or the simplification of crop rotation schedules.
Case studies conducted in Côte d’Ivoire and Togo confirm these trends, with farmers forced to reduce the area under cultivation or switch to less labor-intensive crops.
Beyond simply stating the facts, the document emphasizes the need to rethink agricultural policies in order to enhance the appeal and sustainability of careers in agriculture. In particular, it recommends strengthening technical training, improving working conditions, developing appropriate mechanization services, and improving the image of farming among young people.
The authors believe that the agricultural workforce should be viewed as a strategic lever—on par with land, inputs, and innovation—for achieving food security and sustainable development goals.
The document is available in French to the public free of charge via the following link : https://urlz.fr/v7A8
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