Managing agricultural price volatility in Africa - Context matters for policy effectiveness

Soaring agricultural prices in 2007/2008, followed by decreasing prices in 2009/2010 then a new surge in late 2010/ 2011, have placed the management of agricultural price volatility at the heart of policy debates. Many developing countries have implemented policies to limit agricultural price volatility and its adverse effects, without always achieving the expected
results.
Analysis of recent experiences in Africa shows that in order to be effective, a policy measure must meet four conditions: it must be based on robust knowledge; it must be predictable; its funding must be secured; and its enforcement must be monitored.

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Managing agricultural price volatility in Africa - Context matters for policy effectiveness
Élodie Maître d’Hôtel, Arlène Alpha, Raphaël Beaujeu,Françoise Gérard, Laurent Levard
Perspective No.12
CIRAD 2011

Perspective sets out to suggest new lines of debate and action, backed up by research work, but does not claim to express CIRAD's official position on the topics covered.
This series of 4-page summaries presents novel ideas or policies on development issues of strategic importance for countries in the South: food security, land tenure, climate change, energy security, forest management, standards, etc.

Perspective is intended for decision-makers (public, private, associations, etc), but also for communicators–journalists, teachers, etc–and anyone capable of taking on board simply formulated ideas. It is published in English and French.