Agricultural Growth in West Africa: Market and Policy Drivers
West African Agriculture is at a turning point.
A new FAO Investment investigates the potential for agricultural growth in West Africa. The study "Agricultural Growth in West Africa: Market and Policy Drivers"was prepared jointly by the African Development Bank (AfDB), with support from the Government of France and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). The study found that West African Agriculture is at a turning point. The combination of strong demand growth, sustained economic growth, higher global agricultural prices, and an improved policy environment has generated the most conducive conditions for Agricultural growth in over 30 years. West African countries and their Development Partners now clearly recognize the sector’s vital importance for broad-based growth, food security, improved nutrition and poverty reduction. At the same time, a combination of old and new challenges ranging from climate change to increased price volatility threaten the ability of West Africans to seize these opportunities.
Listen: Interview with FAO Economist, Frank Hollinger on the main issues affecting agriculture in West Africa (5 minutes)Link to embed in the above title:
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