The National Center for Agronomic Research (CNRA) is going through a period of great turbulence. During the ceremony for presenting New Year's wishes and paying tribute to retirees, on February 12, 2026 in Adiopodoumé, the institution's leaders revealed the major challenges that threaten the survival of Ivorian agronomic research.

The specter of research taxation: For the first time in its history, the CNRA (National Center for Agronomic Research) is facing an offensive from the tax authorities. In Bouaké, the regional office has been asked to pay nearly 200 million CFA francs in taxes for the current year, concerning only its smaller sites. While negotiations led by the head office have managed to cancel this debt for the time being, concerns remain. Dr. Kouassi Cyril, regional director in Bouaké, is advocating for a definitive clarification of the center's tax exemption status to avoid further pressure in 2026.

An unprecedented land crisis. Even more serious, the physical integrity of research centers is threatened by land disputes. In Abidjan and throughout the country, individuals with Final Concession Orders (ACDs) are claiming ownership of plots of land occupied by the CNRA. The Adiopodoumé headquarters itself is the target of these claims, forcing the institution to request the intervention of the gendarmerie to secure its administrative buildings.

Faced with this double crisis, unions and management are showing a united front: the absolute priority for 2026 will be securing land assets, an essential foundation for any scientific progress.