As part of its corporate social responsibility efforts, the National Polytechnic Institute Houphouët-Boigny (INP-HB) is offering training to returning migrants in Côte d'Ivoire. The initiative focuses on equipping them with skills in mushroom farming, a sector boasting numerous opportunities in both local and international markets.

Through its Center of Excellence for Waste Valorization into High Value-Added Products (CEA-VALOPRO), the institute conducted a training session from April 22 to 26, benefiting about thirty migrants. This session primarily focused on cultivating edible mushrooms using agricultural waste. It covered key stages such as raw material selection, substrate preparation, inoculation, cultivation, and harvesting. Additionally, participants received instruction in entrepreneurial skills throughout the sessions.

This initiative by INP-HB seeks to provide returning migrants with practical skills to facilitate their professional reintegration upon arrival. According to Benjamin YAO, the coordinator of CEA-VALOPRO, the training was tailored to promote sustainable integration into the local economic landscape.

Under the leadership of Benjamin YAO, the center is optimistic about the economic prospects of mushroom cultivation. This sentiment is fueled by the high market prices of mushrooms both locally and internationally, along with significant demand for the product.