The changing pattern of international trade in agriculture has profound implications for Africa. The book's authors discuss these trade flows, map the corporate landscape of agro-food (including the emergent indigenous sector) and assess trends in international development co-operation in agriculture. Particular focus is given to “aid for trade” programmes that aim to foster private-sector development and trade-capacity building.

A final chapter, drawing lessons from five country case studies, provides evidence of the (in)effectiveness of government intervention and donor programmes in promoting market access for African agriculture. It also offers evidence-based advice on how to foster agricultural development. The book emphasises how the domestic and international private sectors can become drivers of change. This book is a “must read” for government officials, private actors and the donor community and it may help lead to more balanced support programmes.

World Agricultural Trade and Africa

Export subsidies, domestic supports and tariffs continue to influence the changing landscape of world agricultural trade. Its evolution during the past two decades (1985-2005) suggests that much global agro-food trade has become less dependent on purely natural resource endowment and moved up along the value chains. In Africa, on the other hand, the agro-food sector has remained largely dependent on land and climatic conditions, though the continent's agricultural exports have diversified away from bulk commodities to horticulture.

Mapping Big Business: Agro-Food Enterprises in Africa

The global agro-food supply chain is controlled by a small number of large enterprises. Fewer than half have activities on site in Africa. Within the continent, a greater number of local enterprises shape the agro-food sector. This Chapter presents a snapshot of the corporate landscape in the agro-food system in Africa based on the analysis of its largest private sector actors, both foreign and domestic.

Aid for Trade and African Agriculture

This Chapter discusses aid-for-trade activities in Africa. Which are the institutions involved? What are the volumes committed and instruments used to provide trade-related assistance in the continent? A close look at the recent experience of donor support for productive capacity in African agriculture provides insights. Despite the fall of donor support during the 1980s and 1990s, aid to agriculture has remained among the top priority areas of assistance to building productive capacity in Africa.

Unleashing the Potential of Agriculture: Lessons Emerging from Five Countries

This Chapter summarises the major lessons learned from five country case studies: Ghana, Mali, Senegal, Tanzania and Zambia. In the five countries, the transformation of agriculture and the development of agro-based industries have yet to materialise. Donors have played an important role in the promotion of the horticultural sector in these countries. Contract farming (e.g. outgrower schemes) has proved to be an effective mechanism for involving smallholder farmers in export crop production and achieving economies of scale.

from oecd.org