STUDY - Public policies in favor of agricultural sectors in Africa

Since 2019, the FARM Foundation and the Avril Foundation work on the role of public policies in favor of the sustainable development of agricultural sectors in Africa. The theme of this study to download for free finds a justification reinforced by current events. The surge in global commodity prices, triggered by the disruption of supply chains due to the Covid-19 pandemic and amplified by the impact of the Russo-Ukrainian war on the markets and fears linked to drought in several production areas, threatens Africa with a serious food crisis.

It highlights the need for the region to reduce its dependence on imports, given the projected doubling of its population by 2050 and the generally depressive effect of climate change on crop yields.

In this study to download, The two Foundations reviewed some public policy instruments implemented in six African countries to remove constraints on the sustainable development of certain agricultural sectors. This work was based on interviews with stakeholders, mainly African, in the sectors concerned. It covered the following themes:

– in Ivory Coast and to the Ghana, the desire to increase the price paid to producers of cocoa thanks to the establishment by governments of a "decent income differential", added to the world market price;

- At Senegal, the almost total closure of meat imports from chicken, applied since 2005 to stimulate the expansion of local poultry sectors;

- At Rwanda, the development of the sector but, considered a priority, to ensure the country's food security and increase agricultural income;

- At Togo, strengthening the sector soy, in particular through the professionalization of producers, the development of local processing and the strategic role of the interprofessional organization bringing together all the players in the sector;

- At Senegal, the transformation of a local cereal, the thousand, in order to meet the growing demand of urban consumers;

- At Ghana, the computerization and securing of the issuance of land titles, thanks to the blockchain.

Discover the main lessons learned from these case studies. In the coming weeks, we will also publish focus reports on the sectors covered by our study.