The Organization Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF) and the Gabonese Ministry of Agriculture have launched a one-week sub-regional training workshop in Libreville, bringing together thirty young entrepreneurs from the Congo Basin region. The program aims to equip participants with practical skills and mentorship to launch their own green entrepreneurship ventures. The training covers a range of topics, including agroecology, agroforestry, bio-inputs, sustainable irrigation, integrated agriculture, and agro-climatic innovations.
During the seven-day program, participants will learn how to design agricultural projects that balance economic prosperity, social inclusion, and environmental protection. They will also receive training on structuring a business, building an economic model, developing a credible business plan, and preparing for access to financing. The program seeks to challenge the traditional perception of agriculture as a subsistence activity and promote it as a viable business opportunity.
The Minister of Agriculture, Pacôme Kossy, officially opened the workshop, emphasizing the need for African entrepreneurship to expand beyond finance and technology to include agriculture. He encouraged participants to view themselves as entrepreneurs and their farms as businesses, highlighting the importance of creating successful agricultural enterprises. Kossy challenged the participants to return home with solid projects, viable economic models, and a commitment to building genuine agricultural businesses.
The success of the workshop will be measured by the number of businesses created, innovations deployed, jobs generated, and territories transformed, according to Minister Kossy. The OIF's regional representative, Alphonse Waguena, echoed this sentiment, stressing the importance of investing in youth to address the challenge of feeding populations while preserving ecological balances. Waguena emphasized the need for a new generation of economic actors who can demonstrate that protecting nature and creating wealth are complementary objectives.
The training program is a collaborative effort between the OIF and the Gabonese Ministry of Agriculture, reflecting their shared commitment to promoting sustainable agriculture and green entrepreneurship in the region. By equipping young entrepreneurs with the skills and knowledge needed to succeed, the program aims to contribute to the development of a more sustainable and equitable food system.
The workshop brings together participants from several countries in the Congo Basin region, providing a platform for networking, knowledge sharing, and collaboration. As the program comes to a close, participants are expected to have developed practical skills and a deeper understanding of the opportunities and challenges associated with green entrepreneurship in agriculture.
Key points
- The training program covers a range of topics, including agroecology, agroforestry, and sustainable irrigation.
- The program aims to challenge traditional perceptions of agriculture as a subsistence activity and promote it as a viable business opportunity.
- The success of the workshop will be measured by the number of businesses created, innovations deployed, jobs generated, and territories transformed.
