From Pilot Projects to Policy: ECCAS’s Push to Scale Agroecology in Central Africa

From Pilot Projects to Policy: ECCAS’s Push to Scale Agroecology in Central Africa

By Isaiah Esipisu

The Second Congo Basin Convening on Agroecology, held in Cameroon towards the end of August established that agricultural, land, forestry, environmental and trade policies remain compartmentalized at country levels, and that proven agroecological models remain trapped at pilot stage for lack of advisory services, organic inputs, market outlets and sustainable credit.

In an exclusive interview with Mohamed Abakar, Head of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition at the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), we sought to understand what the organisation is doing to stimulate and support agroecology policies in the basin, and within the Central Africa region.

What is ECCAS doing to integrate agroecology into regional agricultural policies?

ECCAS is one of the African Union’s eight Regional Economic Communities (RECs) and comprises eleven (11) member states: Angola, Burundi, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Congo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Rwanda, São Tomé and Príncipe, and Chad. More than seven of these member states fall within the Congo Basin.

In this regard, ECCAS is progressively integrating agroecology into a broader vision for the sustainable, resilient, and competitive transformation of agrifood systems, both across Central Africa in general and within the Congo Basin in particular.

This approach is grounded, first and foremost, in the revised ECCAS Treaty. Article 63 of the revised Treaty commits member states to harmonising their agricultural policies, improving food production in terms of both quantity and quality, sharing research findings, developing joint training programs, and enhancing the ability of rural populations to master the technical and economic environment.

At the operational level, ECCAS acts notably through the revision of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), to better integrate sustainability, climate change adaptation, land restoration, and value chain resilience, development of the Regional Agricultural Investment Plan (PRIA), designed to translate these strategic directions into programs and investments, and through the Central Africa Regional Food and Nutrition Security Strategy (SRSAN-AC), accompanied by a five-year action plan and a regional capacity-building program.

We also align with regional and national policies with the Kampala Declaration and the CAADP Strategy 2026–2035, which are dedicated to building resilient, inclusive, and sustainable agrifood systems, and we are as well cooperating with the FAO, CORAF, National Agricultural Research Systems (NARS), farmers’ organizations, and technical partners to disseminate practices tailored to specific production zones

What role can agroecology play in preserving the Congo Basin’s resources while improving food security?

Agroecology can serve as a bridge between food sovereignty and the preservation of the Congo Basin’s natural capital.

First, it enables increased production on land already under cultivation by restoring soil fertility and reducing the need to expand agricultural areas at the expense of forests. Agroforestry, intercropping, improved fallow systems, cover crops, composting, and the integration of crop and livestock farming all help maintain the ecological functions of the landscape.

Second, it protects soil and water resources. Permanent soil cover, hedgerows, vegetated buffer strips, and the reduction of highly hazardous pesticides help limit erosion, siltation, and watercourse pollution.

Thirdly, it strengthens agricultural and forest biodiversity. Crop diversification, the conservation of farmers’ seeds, the promotion of local species, and the development of agroforestry systems benefit pollinators, beneficial organisms, and ecosystem resilience.

Fourthly, it improves food and nutritional security by diversifying production and diets. A farm that combines cereals, tubers, legumes, fruit trees, small-scale livestock, and non-timber forest products (NTFPs) is generally less vulnerable to climatic, biological, and economic shocks than a monoculture heavily dependent on imported inputs.

Finally, it can boost rural incomes, provided there are links to markets, local processing, storage facilities, and certification systems. The environmental value of agroecological practices could also be recognized through mechanisms such as climate finance, landscape restoration, payments for ecosystem services, and carbon valuation.

The choice, therefore, is not between preserving the forest and feeding populations. It is about organizing agriculture in a way that sustainably improves productivity and incomes without destroying the natural capital upon which the region’s economic future depends. This approach aligns with ECCAS’s commitment to land restoration and the sustainable management of the Congo Basin’s natural resources.

What are the main challenges to scaling up agroecology in Central Africa?

The first challenge is the need for policy coherence. In several countries, agricultural, land, trade, environmental, and fiscal policies are not sufficiently aligned. Certain mechanisms continue to favor conventional inputs without offering comparable support for biofertilizers, biopesticides, local seeds, or ecosystem services.

The second challenge relates to the limited capacity for applied research, extension services, and training. Agroecological practices are highly context-specific. Consequently, a solution suited to a humid forest zone cannot simply be replicated in savannahs, pastoral areas, or highlands.

The third challenge is economic. The transition can entail upfront costs, a temporary increase in labor requirements, or a drop in yields during the learning phase. Yet, family farms often struggle to access credit, agricultural insurance, and suitable equipment.

Other constraints that must also be addressed include land tenure insecurity, which discourages long-term investment in soil fertility and agroforestry, inadequate access to quality seeds, certified organic inputs, and farmer-led seed systems, lack of harmonised regional standards and the high cost of organic certification, and weak structured markets and a lack of price premiums for agroecological products.

Finally, there are two pitfalls, often confused by many stakeholders, and must be avoided. The first one is presenting agroecology as a one-size-fits-all solution applicable everywhere, and the second is artificially pitting it against science and modernisation. The transition must be gradual, scientifically grounded, economically viable, and tailored to the realities of each specific region.

What policy measures are needed to help farmers adopt agroecological practices in the region?

The widespread adoption of agroecology requires a policy environment that offers greater incentives and security for producers. To this end, we recommend adoption of a regional framework for agroecology and organic farming, integrated into the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), the Regional Agricultural Investment Plan (PRIA), and the SRSAN-AC, with clearly defined objectives, indicators, and responsibilities.

We also recommend development or update of the national agroecological transition plans, involving farmers’ organisations, women, youth, researchers, local authorities, and the private sector.

We would also like to see gradual reorient of public support so that subsidies are not limited to synthetic fertilisers and pesticides but also cover compost, biofertilizers, biopesticides, agroforestry, water harvesting, adapted seeds, and processing equipment.

We recommend establishment of appropriate financial mechanisms, namely concessional credit, guarantee funds, microfinance, agricultural insurance, transition subsidies, and payment for environmental services, and strengthening of local agricultural advisory services by training extension workers, master trainers, and lead farmers, as well as by establishing farmer field schools and demonstration plots.

Ultimately, our ambition is not merely to change the way we produce. It is to build agrifood systems in Central Africa capable of sustainably feeding populations, boosting rural incomes, creating decent jobs, and preserving the Congo Basin. Agroecology must thus become a joint instrument for food sovereignty, climate resilience, and regional prosperity.