West Africa: Shortage of Agricultural Labor Alarms Researchers

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 “Right to Know” series, released by the Centre Suisse de Recherches Scientifiques en Côte d’Ivoire (CSRS) and its partners.

Titled “Agricultural Transition: The Human Factor, the Blind Spot of 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 access to education, rural exodus, the aging of farmers, and the growing appeal of alternative activities such as gold panning or urban services. This shift is leading to higher labor costs and difficulties in mobilizing workers during key periods of the agricultural season.

The publication highlights that this labor shortage has direct consequences on production: delays in agricultural work, lower yields, and increased reliance on alternative practices, such as the use of herbicides or the simplification of cultivation methods.

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 must be viewed as a strategic lever—on par with land, inputs, and innovation—to achieve food security and sustainable development goals.

The document is available to the public free of charge via the following link: https://urlz.fr/v7A8 

Emmanuel Dabo/ASCA