African Business published an article on how experts are warning that pursuing continental self-sufficiency may not be an appropriate remedy for Africa’s weak position in agricultural supply chains.
“The greatest problem facing African farmers is not that they are too connected to global supply chains, but that their connections to those supply chains are not developed enough”, said IFPRI senior research fellow David Laborde. “Africa will still have a deficit in potash as the main mines are in Eritrea, and these reserves will not cover the total needs of the continent as certain crops like banana and plantain require high levels of potash.” Senior research fellow Joseph Glauber said that the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) “will be very important in bringing down some of those external tariffs and barriers to trade. The real key, though, is reducing transaction costs in terms of moving grain from inland markets to export markets and vice versa.” Republished in Next Billion, North Africa Post, African News Paper, Iskova News (Russia)