Recent developments in agricultural research

Key Trends Since 2000

• Agricultural research and development (R&D) expenditures fell around the turn of the millennium, but remained relatively stable during 2002–08. The sociopolitical turmoil that rocked Côte d’Ivoire between 1999 and 2002, and the ensuing civil war had a particularly negative impact on agricultural R&D investments in the country’s central, northern and western zones.

• The National Center for Agricultural Research (CNRA) is the country’s main agricultural R&D agency, accounting for twothirds of the total research capacity and over three-quarters of its agricultural R&D investments.

• Unlike the situation elsewhere in the region, the national government and donors play a minimal role in inancing agricultural R&D. CNRA research is mainly funded by the private sector through the Inter-Professional Fund for Agricultural Research and Extension (FIRCA); CNRA also uses internally generated resources to fund its research.

• During 2000–08, average qualiication levels of agricultural researchers have improved.