The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is advancing its initiative to enhance the quality of agricultural products across the region. A regional workshop was conducted in Lomé, Togo, from May 19 to 22, 2025, focusing on this effort.
The ECOWAS Commission’s Directorate of Industry organized the event in collaboration with the Directorate of Agriculture and Rural Development. The Food System Resilience Program (FSRP) in West Africa, supported by the World Bank, backed the workshop. This program seeks to improve food security and bolster agriculture against climate, health, and economic challenges.
Mr. Lassane Kaboré, Director of Industry at the ECOWAS Commission, highlighted the importance of updating agricultural standards during his opening remarks: “Updating our agricultural standards means modernizing our agriculture, protecting our consumers, and supporting regional integration. It is a crucial step toward meeting the expectations of West African markets.”
The workshop addressed standards for six key agricultural products: rice, maize, tomatoes, dry beans, fresh cassava, and groundnuts. The aim was to harmonize revision proposals from Member States under the ECOWAS Standards Harmonization Model (ECOSHAM).
This initiative aligns with two major regional policies: ECOQUAL (the ECOWAS Quality Policy) and ECOWAP (the ECOWAS Agricultural Policy). Through these updates, ECOWAS seeks to enhance competitiveness in West African agriculture, facilitate trade among member countries, and ensure safe and high-quality agricultural products for consumers.
By the conclusion of the workshop, revised draft standards were validated. The next phase involves national consultations in each Member State before final adoption by the ECOSHAM Technical Management Committee (TMC).