Les cultures vivrières pluviales en Afrique de l'Ouest et du Centre - Eléments d'analyse et propositions pour l'action

02/11/2011 - Article

A book providing keys to how food crop supply chains in West and central Africa function, and the issues they face.

The rise in global agricultural prices in 2008 revealed the fragility of food security in many developing countries. Poor populations in the countries of sub-Saharan Africa are the main victims.

Rainfed food crops have a specific role to play in Africa, by supplying regional markets, boosting farmers' incomes and creating jobs in rural areas.

In line with regional moves initiated in West and central Africa, the AFD, CIRAD and IFAD launched three studies, to

i) map food crop production and consumption basins in the zone,
ii) identify the contribution research can make to these supply chains, and
iii) analyse the practices of food crop projects.

This book is a synopsis of the work conducted with African regional research organizations and centres of expertise (AGRHYMET, WECARD). It takes stock of the existing knowledge of the main food crop supply chains in the region: rice, maize, cassava, millet-sorghum, yam, groundnut and cowpea. What remains is to find ways of boosting the existing dynamics: how can intermediation be supported? How can a regional approach be adopted for these supply chains to encourage widespread good practice, broaden markets and foster synergies? What role should be given (back) to research in supporting these supply chains? How can the funding constraints throughout these supply chains be overcome?

The book is based on contributions from Nour Ahmadi (CIRAD), Ernest Assah Asiedu (WECARD), Pierre Baris (independent consultant), Hubert Boirard (IFAD), Nicolas Bricas (CIRAD), Jean-François Cruz (CIRAD), Marie-Hélène Dabat (CIRAD), Sebastien Demay (independent consultant), Marcel de Raïssac (CIRAD), Patrice Djamen (ACT), Issa Drabo (INERA), Patrick Dugué (CIRAD), Benoit Faivre Dupaigre (French Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs), Koichi Fatakuchi (AfricaRice), Wole Fatunbi (FARA), Geneviève Fliedel (CIRAD), Michel Fok (CIRAD), Melaku Gedil (IITA), Codou Mame Gueye (ISRA-CERAAS), Momar Talla Gueye (ITA), Henri Hocde (CIRAD), Gnissa Konaté (INERA and CILSS), Jacques Lançon (CIRAD), Florent Maraux (CIRAD), Vatché Papazian (AFD), Philippe Remy (IFAD), Harold Roy-Macaulay (WECARD), Denys Sanfo (INERA), Jacob Sanou (INERA), Michel Sedogo (INERA), Didier Simon (AFD), Comlan Hervé Sossou (INRAB), Marie-Cécile Thirion (AFD), Ouola Traouré (INERA), Julienne Traoure-Gue (INERA), Gilles Trouche (CIRAD), Philippe Vernier (CIRAD), Gaspard Vognan (INERA), Ndjekoun Kosse Djool Yagoua (ITRAT), Pierre Goli Zohouri (CNRA), Bernardin Zoungrana (CILSS-AGRHYMET).

Les cultures vivrières pluviales en Afrique de l'Ouest et du Centre
Eléments d'analyse et propositions pour l'action
M. De Raïssac (ed.), N. Bricas (ed.), F. Maraux (ed.), P. Remy (ed.), D. Simon (ed.), C. Uhder, H. Boirard, M.C. Thirion.
Publisher: AFD
2011