Innovating in the way we talk to young people about agriculture, while training and revealing new talent: this is the challenge taken up by “Parlons Élevage”, the first reality TV show dedicated to livestock farming in Côte d'Ivoire. The initiative has been praised for its originality and impact, following a first season that ended on July 26 on RTI.
Launched by the NSI (Next Sustainable Initiatives) agency in partnership with the Ministry of Animal and Fisheries Resources (MIRAH) and Radiodiffusion Télévision Ivoirienne (RTI), this television program has captivated a wide audience with its unique format, combining entertainment, technical learning, and the promotion of rural entrepreneurship.
For several weeks, young people with agricultural projects from various regions of the country competed in creativity and rigor to defend their ideas before a jury of experts. Each candidate was coached by a personality from the artistic world, such as Yodé and Siro, who provided an outside perspective and strategic support in structuring the projects.
Over the course of the episodes, viewers were able to discover the diversity and potential of the livestock sector in Côte d'Ivoire: fish farming, poultry farming, agri-food processing, short supply chains... all sectors represented by concrete projects, driven by committed and visionary young people.
The grand finale, broadcast live, pitted two finalists with complementary approaches against each other:
An optimized fish farming project, incorporating technical solutions to improve the profitability and sustainability of local aquaculture;
An integrated concept combining chicken farming and catering, with a focus on promoting local products and empowering women.
The jury finally selected Koné Pelardjou as the winner of this first edition, who was awarded a check for 10 million CFA francs and technical support to develop his project on a large scale.
But beyond the prize, it was an entire ecosystem that was brought to light. “Parlons Élevage” demonstrated that agriculture can be modern, inspiring, and promising for the future of Ivorian youth. The program has established itself as a tool for raising awareness and mobilizing a new generation of entrepreneurial livestock farmers.
While awaiting a highly anticipated second season, the show offers a glimpse of new momentum for rural development and lays the foundations for innovative, inclusive, and sustainable agriculture in Côte d'Ivoire.
JB
