The article determines that the agricultural sector of West Africa is dynamically improving efficiency indicators, but such a pace is not enough to meet the needs of the population for adequate nutrition. The article examines one of the main reasons for the backwardness of West African agricultural production, which is land degradation. It is mainly a consequence of inappropriate human activities, including agricultural expansion and poor resource management practices. However, natural factors also have a huge negative impact on agriculture, leading to the withdrawal of land from circulation. In the region, there is a growing number of people vulnerable to hunger whose activities are directly related to the land –farmers and pastoralists. Countries are taking a number of steps to stop land degradation, but these measures are being implemented at a slow, ineffective pace.