Agriculture

Agricultural research funding has been low, but adoption of proposed technologies has been even worse, at just 10% in 2007. The West Africa Agricultural Productivity Program (WAAPP) works to bolster research and extension of agricultural technologies in Ghana, Mali, and Senegal, focusing on the top agricultural priorities of each country. As of September 2012, 253,881 individuals had benefited directly from the project, and 37 new technologies were released, improving 166,938 hectares of land
The WAAPP works to generate and disseminate improved technologies in the top priority areas identified by the Central Africa Counsel for Agricultural Research (CORAF), including roots and tubers in Ghana, rice in Mali, and cereals in Senegal. The project targets Central Africa’s consumers affected by extreme poverty and agricultural producers as beneficiaries of the program. Researchers, extension agencies, and universities were all brought in to generate and disseminate technology supported by the program.
As of September 2012, WAAPP had achieved the following results:

There were 253,881 direct project beneficiaries
37 new technologies were released by NCOS, all of which improved yields by at least 15% compared to the control technology
166,938 hectares of land have been improved by these technologies.
57,129 Ghanaian producers have adopted project technologies.
20,000 Senegalese producers have adopted project technologies.
53,450 Malian producers have adopted project technologies
ECOWAS has adopted regulations for the registration of genetic materials and pesticides
CORAF maintains a web-based information system on agricultural technologies and research skills that the organization collects
Each country now operates a harmonized monitoring and evaluation system for data collection, analysis, and reporting