Unpacking policies for the development of agricultural growth poles in West Africa

Abstract

This paper investigates what national policies are implemented to foster the development of agricultural growth pole model in West Africa. We hypothesize this model is applied through national public policies centred on market allocation. We conducted case studies in Burkina Faso, Cote d'Ivoire, Mali and Senegal. Results show governments implement regulation, fiscal exoneration, business facilitation measures, or reform land tenure and invest in irrigation infrastructure to attract private investments. Measures supporting smallholders inclusion are less common. The ongoing development of the agricultural growth pole model therefore raises concerns regarding both family farmers' land rights and inclusion through vertical coordination.

Factors Affecting Public Sector Investment in the Livestock Industry in Malaw

“…The study found that donors influence national policies to mainly create an enabling business environment to attract large-scale foreign investments through off-taker-producer contract arrangements where investment is not a priority in the agriculture sector by transactional actors, including the World Bank and IMF. Similar trends were observed in the West African governments (for more details, refer to Tyrou et al, 2023). The agenda of transaction actors does influence the nature of investment in the livestock sector.…”