Evidence on Key Policies for African Agricultural Growth

84 Pages Posted: 8 Mar 2013

See all articles by Xinshen Diao

Xinshen Diao

International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI)

Adam Kennedy

International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI)

Ousmane Badiane

International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI)

Frances Cossar

A member of the CGIAR Consortium - International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI)

Paul Dorosh

International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI)

Olivier Ecker

International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI)

Hagos Hosaena Ghebru

International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI)

Derek D. Headey

International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI)

Athur Mabiso

International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI)

Tsitsi Makombe

International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI)

Mehrab Malek

International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI)

Emily Schmidt

International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI)

Date Written: February 1, 2013

Abstract

It is widely agreed that reducing poverty in Africa south of the Sahara (SSA) depends largely on stimulating growth in agriculture. To this end, heads of state in Africa rallied to form the pan-African Comprehensive African Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) with the goal of raising investments and improving strategy implementation. However, while implementing an agricultural agenda under the CAADP framework, more and more countries have realized that increasing public investment in agriculture alone is not enough. Policy can play an important role not only to make public investment more efficient, but also is crucial for incentivizing private sector and farmer investment in agriculture. Against this backdrop this paper takes stock of current agricultural policies in SSA with a view to identifying policies that are working as well as areas for improvement. The paper examines policies to encourage the adoption of agricultural inputs, initiate greater private-sector investment in agriculture and agro-industries, and manage price volatility while encouraging openness. The paper further reviews successful land tenure policies and property rights systems, reviews the evidence on the synergies between agriculture and nutrition, and examines how CAADP is laying the institutional architecture for improved policy formulation in Africa. In general, the paper finds that although substantial progress has been made, there is considerable scope for improvement. This is not surprising given the relatively primitive and deeply rooted nature of smallholder farming in Africa. Evidence synthesized in the paper supports the view that most policies cannot be implemented in isolation. Rather, policies tend to be most effective when implemented along with complementary policies and public investments.

Keywords: agricultural policy, CAADP, input policy, land tenure, nutrition policy, policy evidence, private sector

Suggested Citation

Diao, Xinshen and Kennedy, Adam and Badiane, Ousmane and Cossar, Frances and Dorosh, Paul and Ecker, Olivier and Hosaena Ghebru, Hagos and Headey, Derek D. and Mabiso, Athur and Makombe, Tsitsi and Malek, Mehrab and Schmidt, Emily, Evidence on Key Policies for African Agricultural Growth (February 1, 2013). IFPRI Discussion Paper 01242, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2228877 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2228877

Xinshen Diao (Contact Author)

International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) ( email )

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Adam Kennedy

International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) ( email )

1201 Eye St, NW,
Washington, DC 20005
United States

Ousmane Badiane

International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) ( email )

1201 Eye St, NW,
Washington, DC 20005
United States

Frances Cossar

A member of the CGIAR Consortium - International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) ( email )

1201 Eye St, NW,
Washington, DC 20005
United States

Paul Dorosh

International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) ( email )

1201 Eye St, NW,
Washington, DC 20005
United States
+1 202-862-5600 (Phone)
+1 202-467-4439 (Fax)

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Olivier Ecker

International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) ( email )

1201 Eye St, NW,
Washington, DC 20005
United States

Hagos Hosaena Ghebru

International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) ( email )

1201 Eye St, NW,
Washington, DC 20005
United States

Derek D. Headey

International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) ( email )

1201 Eye St, NW,
Washington, DC 20005
United States

Athur Mabiso

International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) ( email )

1201 Eye St, NW,
Washington, DC 20005
United States

Tsitsi Makombe

International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) ( email )

1201 Eye St, NW,
Washington, DC 20005
United States

Mehrab Malek

International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) ( email )

1201 Eye St, NW,
Washington, DC 20005
United States

Emily Schmidt

International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) ( email )

1201 Eye St, NW,
Washington, DC 20005
United States

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