Guinea, Italy launch US$5.8M farm program to boost food supply and jobs
The three year project targets market gardening, youth jobs, and women led businesses in Conakry and Kankan.
GUINEA – Guinea has launched a new agriculture program with Italy as part of wider efforts to grow food output and jobs in a sector that supports most of the country’s workers.
The Ministry of Agriculture officially launched the Guinea Italy Agricultural Project on Wednesday, December 10. The project will run for three years with a total budget of €5 million (about US$5.8 million), with Italy covering 90 percent of the funding.
Agriculture accounts for about 29 percent of Guinea’s GDP and employs close to 58 percent of the working population.
According to a statement from the Ministry of Agriculture, the project will focus on developing market gardening zones in Conakry and Kankan. It will also train about 6,000 producers to improve production methods, yields, and access to markets.
The plan also includes financial and technical support for more than 100 business initiatives led by young people and women. “These actions aim to revitalize agricultural value chains, promote the economic empowerment of communities, and sustainably strengthen food security,” the ministry said in its statement.
Officials say the program responds to rising food needs in urban areas while opening income paths for groups that often struggle to access finance and training. By supporting small scale producers and local businesses, the project seeks to reduce food imports and improve household incomes.
Ties to Italy’s wider Africa plan
The launch follows talks held on December 8 between Agriculture Minister Mariame Ciré Sylla and Italian Ambassador Tarek Chazli. Both sides said the project fits within Italy’s Mattei Plan, which Rome launched in 2024 to deepen cooperation with African countries in energy, agriculture, infrastructure, and training.
Italy plans to back projects in Guinea that align with national goals, especially in agriculture. “The Italian side highlighted Guinea’s natural competitiveness, particularly the quality of its cocoa, and expressed a specific interest in infrastructure development and support, seeking partnerships,” the ministry said. “The coffee and cocoa sectors received particular attention, with Italy wishing to move from technical cooperation to commercial cooperation, taking advantage of Guinea’s favorable climate.”
Italy ranks among Europe’s top processors of coffee and cocoa, alongside the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, and France. Officials see the current cooperation as a chance for Guinea to grow export earnings from the European Union.
European Commission data shows that Guinea’s cocoa exports to the EU more than tripled in value over the past three years, rising from €43 million, (about US$50.5 million), in 2020 to €133 million, (about US$156.2 million), in 2024. Coffee exports also doubled over the same period to €14 million, (about US$16.4 million).
With the new project now underway, both governments expect closer links between farm production, processing, and trade to support steady growth in the years ahead.
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