OCP Africa, UM6P Launch Digital Farming School in Ivory Coast

Rabat – OCP Africa and the Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P) have laid the foundation stone for the “Digital Farming School” in Yamoussoukro, Cote d’Ivoire.

The pioneering project presents a significant milestone in digital agriculture and aims to provide unique opportunities for young Ivorians passionate about AgriTech, according to a statement.

The foundation stone-laying ceremony was attended by key officials, including Adama Diawara, Ivorian Minister of Higher Education, Abdelmalek Kettani, Moroccan Ambassador in Ivory Coast, Mohamed Hettiti, Vice President of OCP for West Africa, and UM6P’s Bouchaib Boulanouar.

The establishment of the Digital Farming School underscores Morocco’s commitment to mutually beneficial South-South cooperation with Ivory Coast aligning with the instructions of King Mohammed VI, OCP Africa and UM6P the statement said.

OCP Africa stated that the Digital Farming School, developed in collaboration with the Felix Houphouet-Boigny National Polytechnic Institute (INPHB-Cote d’Ivoire), will be the first branch of UM6P University in sub-Saharan Africa.

The institution will be situated in the Technopole of Yamoussoukro, fostering a transformative environment for agricultural education.

The launch of this groundbreaking school coincides with the Year of Youth in Ivory Coast, as designated by President Alassane Dramane Ouattara, as part of the government’s plan to support educational and technological initiatives for youth.

Within the next 10 to 12 months, the Digital Farming School plans to enroll approximately one hundred young students. The students will receive comprehensive training in Agritech, utilizing an adjacent experimental farm as a practical laboratory, according to OCP Africa.

The establishment of the school is a result of the partnership between OCP Group and the Ivorian Government, with collaboration between the Ministers of Agriculture and Industry under the leadership of Prime Minister Patrick Achi.

To foster an innovation ecosystem, around one hundred Agritech startups will collaborate with the Farming Innovation Program initiated by OCP Africa in partnership with AgriEdge and UM6P. The startups will work closely with the Digital Farming School, providing expertise, mentorship opportunities, and supporting the creation of innovative companies in the agricultural sector.

The Digital Farming School aims to introduce a new AgriTech training approach, offering young Ivorians a unique chance to develop high-value skills in the realm of digital agriculture.

The curriculum will emphasize practical learning, leveraging a reference digital farm where students can engage in hands-on experience (Learning by Farming) and knowledge sharing among peers (Peer Learning).

Expressing his enthusiasm, OCP Africa CEO Mohamed Anouar Jamali stated: “We are delighted to lay the foundation stone for the Digital Farming School here in Yamoussoukro, which will open up new perspectives for Ivorian youth in the field of AgriTech, reinforcing innovation, entrepreneurship, and digital transformation of agriculture in Cote d’Ivoire and Africa.”