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The central role of agriculture in the Economic Community of West African States
(ECOWAS) economy cannot be overemphasized. At present, the sector contributes 30-50% of the
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and provides employment for 50-80% of the population in
the region. The sector is characterized by millions of small farms of 2-10
ha, run by families who derive their income and livelihood from producing primary agricultural products
for consumption, domestic markets and export.
Nevertheless, all the 15 countries in the region are
net importers of food and agricultural
commodities, while the major export crops are limited to a few such as coffee, cotton, cocoa and rubber. The prevalent low per
capita production of food and cash crops, coupled with weak human capital and high degree
of economic vulnerability, made the UN to classify all the countries in ECOWAS as
Least Developed Countries (LDCs). Due to the inherent food security problems, none of
the ECOWAS countries are self-sufficient in any agricultural
commodity, apart from maize.
The farm households in the region, therefore, often depend heavily on a narrow range
of agricultural products for food security and are
quite vulnerable to large fluctuations in commodity prices and international competition. Nevertheless, as an engine for
economic growth, agriculture continues to have the highest
potential, provided the regional and country specific productivity
concerns are addressed.
Over the last decade, the growth in agricultural output and productivity in ECOWAS
has been very mixed across the member nations. In
countries, such as Cote d'Ivoire, Ghana and Mali, there has been a
sharp increase in crop productivity, whereas in others such as
Senegal and Niger, it has not been the same (SWAC, 2006). |
