Foreword V
Foreword
The price hike on international food markets in 2007-2008 was a turning point in world agriculture.
Despite the surge in food prices, the expected supply response for most smallholder farmers, particularly
in Africa, did not occur. The crisis triggered a broad consensus calling for substantial investments in
agricultural and rural development to reduce both food insecurity and poverty affecting chiefly rural
areas. The price hike also confirmed the urgent necessity of making markets work for and inclusive of
smallholder farmers.
In West Africa, this episode triggered a stronger commitment to a food security policy geared toward
improving the performance of the agricultural sector. There were renewed commitments to create the
enabling environment for greater investment in staple food commodities, long neglected in favor of a
few export commodities. The episode also gave a new impetus to the CAADP (Comprehensive Africa
Agriculture Development Programme) process which shaped the national agricultural development
strategies and the related investment programmes.
The present book focusing on West Africa embodies a thorough analysis of past and present policies
pertaining to food value chains without overlooking export commodities. It examines detailed value
chain case studies conducted in several countries, covering both staple food commodities (rice, maize,
sorghum, millet and cassava) and export crops (cocoa, cotton, oil palm, mangoes and horticultural
products). It reviews public and private initiatives and includes thematic analyses on not only the private
sector but also farmers’ organizations seen as market agents.
This book aims to contribute to filling an existing gap in the literature on food value chains in West
Africa. It identifies good practices in value chain development and provides policy guidance to
agricultural and rural development stakeholders. It is intended to be a sourcebook for decision makers,
especially at a time when many countries in the region have embarked on implementing their national
agricultural strategies derived from the CAADP process.
The book recommends several priority areas for action. Key among these are: (a) Policy support to
agriculture to achieve food security and poverty reduction must place greater emphasis on staple food
crops and build stronger market incentives for smallholders’ inclusiveness, with particular focus on
women’s access to inputs, credit, better organization and market/business capabilities; (b) Investment
strategies aligned with CAADP must ensure greater policy coordination between public and private actors
and enhance market opportunities, especially through domestic marketing and intra-regional trade; (c)
Policy support should focus on developing market-based input delivery services, enhancing capacity for
producers’ organizations to self-reliably access information, inputs, credit and forge credible business
linkages with other value chain actors.
David Hallam
Director
Trade and Markets Division
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Ides de Willebois
Director
West and Central Africa Division
International Food and Agriculture Development