• Guinea launches €5 million agriculture project with Italy
  
• Programme targets vegetable farming, women and youth inclusion
  
• Initiative aligns with Italy’s Mattei Plan, boosts EU exports
  

Guinea’s Ministry of Agriculture on Wednesday launched the Guinea–Italy Agricultural Project (PAGITA), a three-year programme with a total budget of 5 million euros ($5.8 million). Funded mainly by Italy, the project aims to modernise vegetable farming, strengthen food security and support the economic inclusion of women and young people.

In a statement published on its website, the ministry said the project will include the development of designated horticultural zones in Conakry and Kankan, as well as training for 6,000 producers.

The programme will also support and finance more than 100 business initiatives led by women and young people. The measures are intended to strengthen agricultural value chains, improve community incomes and reinforce food security on a sustainable basis, the ministry said.

A broader cooperation framework

During a meeting held on Dec. 8 between Agriculture Minister Mariame Ciré Sylla and Italian Ambassador Tarek Chazli, alongside the launch of PAGITA, officials said the project forms part of Italy’s “Mattei Plan”. The initiative, launched by Rome in 2024, seeks to expand cooperation with African countries in energy, agriculture, infrastructure and training.

Italy plans to develop projects in Guinea that align with national priorities and the opportunities offered by the plan, particularly in agriculture. The Italian side highlighted Guinea’s comparative advantages, notably the quality of its cocoa, and expressed interest in infrastructure development and management through partnerships. The coffee and cocoa sectors received particular attention, with Italy seeking to move beyond technical assistance towards commercial cooperation, taking advantage of Guinea’s favourable climate, the ministry said.

Italy is among Europe’s leading processors of coffee and cocoa, alongside the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium and France. The cooperation could help Guinea increase its export revenues from the European Union.

Data from the European Commission show that Guinean cocoa exports to the EU more than tripled in value over the past three years, rising from 43 million euros ($50.5 million) in 2020 to 133 million euros ($156.2 million) in 2024. Coffee exports doubled over the same period to reach 14 million euros ($16.4 million).

Stéphanas Assocle