Africa UP Close

By Ibrahima Hathie, Initiative Prospective Agricole et Rurale, Senegal and Benedict Yiyugsah, Center for Democratic Development, Ghana

This research paper is part of The Wilson Center’s Africa Program and Leadership Project 2012 Southern Voices in the Northern Policy Debate Initiative, supported by the Carnegie Corporation of New York

I. Introduction

Agriculture plays a key role in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). The agricultural sector, which accounts for 30% of GDP, is an important source of export earnings and remains the major sector absorbing the growing labor force^[i].  60% of the economically active population works in the agricultural sector. As a result, agriculture could be a driver for economic growth and poverty reduction.  In the rural sector, on-farm activities continue to provide the main share of household incomes and most farm households grow staple foods and are self-sufficient. In spite of this central role, Sub-Saharan Africa’s agricultural sector has not overcome its food supply challenges.  The level of rural poverty is still alarming and the region has to cope with adverse agricultural policies initiated in the North. Meanwhile energy and food security issues have taken center stage in light of the recent food price spike.