Agriculture and Rural Development (World Bank)

A Strategy to Develop Agriculture in Sub-Saharan Africa and a Focus for the World Bank

Kevin M. Cleaver World Bank Technical Paper 203 Africa Technical Department Series 153 pages / 8-1/2 x 11 / ISBN 0-8213-2420-9 Subject Categories Agriculture / Agriculture and rural development Region Sub-Saharan Africa Order Stock #12420 / $9.95 / Price code 009

For 25 years, population growth has outpaced increases in agricultural production in Sub-Saharan Africa. The lack of food and the degradation of agricultural land have forced policymakers to reassess agricultural strategies for the region.

This paper provides such a reassessment by identifying policies and investments that have worked and those that have not. The author sets out the common elements required for agricultural and rural development throughout the region. The strategy presented in this paper comprises elements from several development sectors, including transport, water supply, education, finance, and the environment.

The author makes five broad recommendations to promote agricultural growth and food security in the region:

- adoption of policies to promote private sector farming and agricultural marketing, processing, and credit

- development and distribution of new technologies

- inclusion of farmers in decisions affecting their livelihood

- development of infrastructure and social programs in support of agriculture

- improved management of natural resources

Projections of the likely effects of the proposed policies and investments are included.

Tables throughout the text present statistics on agricultural growth rates, commodity prices, and deforestation in the region. An annex contains more general tables, with information on population growth and fertility rates, land use, agricultural exports, and droughts.

The strategies suggested in this paper will be of interest to policymakers, academics, and to development practitioners involved in African agriculture.