Emerging Trends and Scenarios for Agribusiness Development in Africa

Abstract: 
This paper will: Review the roles of agriculture, as defined by the “classic” Johnston-Mellor paradigm, in context of the renewed emphasis on African agriculture and the changed environment in which it functions and conclude on the need for and nature of adjustments i.e. whether a paradigm shift is required; • Identify drivers and trends that will shape agricultures’ roles in the African region. These will include meeting the growing demand for food at global, regional and household levels; activating Africa’s untapped agricultural production potential and production and price scenarios; evolving agri-food business systems; investment and scale issues in African agriculture; and economic management and governance; • Illustrate the impact of such drivers by calling evidence from recent developments in African agriculture; and • Consider a strategic framework - functions, thrusts and actions - and derive scenarios for African agribusiness development for the next decades.
Language: 
English
Extended Abstract for Coordinated Action for Agricultural Innovation
Date of publication: 
2012
Region Focus: 
Central Africa
East Africa
Southern Africa
West Africa
Author/Editor(s): 
Collection: 
RUFORUM Conferences and Workshops
Agrovoc terms: 
Licence conditions: 
Open Access
Form: 
Printed resource
Publisher: 
ISSN: 
E_ISSN: 
Edition: 
Notes: 

The 2012 RUFORUM Biennial Conference is the third in the series. The main objective of the Biennial conferences is to provide a platform for agricultural research for development stakeholders in Africa and beyond to actively exchange findings and experiences, while at the same time learning lessons towards improving performance of the agricultural sector and ultimately people’s livelihoods. The biennial conference is RUFORUM’s most comprehensive meeting for the diversity of stakeholers in agriculture. It is especially dedicated to graduate students and their supervisors, grantees in RUFORUM member universities and alumni. It is a platform for peer review, quality control, mentorship, networking and shared learning. The third Biennial Conference was attended by 657 participants.  This record contains an extended abstract accepted under the theme of Coordinated Action for Agricultural Innovation.