ASSESSMENT OF AGRO-ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES AND POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS FOR SUSTAINABLE AGRO-ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT IN WEST AFRICA

The agricultural sector, indispensable in meeting the increasing demand for food, is the main user of natural resources. Agricultural production breeds significant environmental impacts and problems both within and outside farms or agricultural holdings. This situation increases the sensitivity of the agriculture to the risks that can cause serious economic losses. Thus, unless measures are taken to solve the environmental problems arising from agricultural production, the sustainability of agricultural production and food supply even less the achievement of food and agriculture-related sustainable development goals can be seriously threatened. However, these risks and losses can be mitigated through policy reform, institutional and technological innovations. In West Africa, more than 40% of water and land resources are used for agricultural production. This makes agroenvironment relations more important. This study has been carried out to reveal the major agro-environmental challenge in West Africa and to examine the current approaches and policies applied to solve these problems. In the study, data obtained from FAO agro-environmental indicators database were used as the main material. In this study, using a research methodology subdivided into two stages, the effects of agricultural activities on the environment were examined, analysed and interpreted by comparing the agro-environmental profiles of West African countries with other OECD countries based on agro-environmental indicators. Agroenvironmental policies applied to resolve agro-environmental problems in West African countries were reviewed and recommendations for sustainable agroenvironmental management and also a more efficient and environmentally friendly agricultural sector were formulated for sustainable agriculture and food supply.