Challenges of agricultural growth and job creation in west africa

…Challenges of Agricultural growth and job creation in West- Africa…
CHALLENGES OF AGRICULTURAL GROWTH AND JOB
CREATION IN WEST- AFRICA
August 1, 2013
AUTHORED BY: VICTORIA A. TOLU

ABSTRACT
In recent times, West African countries are faced with massive unemployment problem,
despite the crucial role and beneficial impacts played by agriculture. This paper analyzes the
role of agriculture in job creation for developing countries. Main conclusions of this study are
as follows. First, agriculture plays an important role of job creation both on the farm, in
manufacturing industry as well as in whole economy, particularly in the small scale farmers
which are the most important component of job generation, the problems of agricultural
development and job creation in west Africa, need for innovation in the agricultural sector of
African countries,. And lastly the recommendations to boost agricultural for job creation in
West Africa. Accordingly, the policy implication in terms of job creation is to promote and
encourage the creation of more hands in the agricultural fields.

BACKGROUND
The agricultural sector plays a major role in the national economies, trade balance,
employment, rural incomes and food security of nations and populations of the Economic
Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
Agriculture, as the backbone of the economy affects the society at many levels since national
economies; incomes and food security depends upon it. A considerable proportion of the
labor force in the ECOWAS region is engaged in this sector most operating as a crop farmer,
livestock’s or poultry farmers even though it pays less than other economic sectors.
Agriculture has served as a vital factor in efforts to combat poverty and food insecurity in
West Africa and it also plays a key role in land management, soil fertility, natural resource
management and environmental protection.
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is made up of 15 countries,
which includes; Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Cote d’Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea,
Guinea Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo. ECOWAS is an Inter-
governmental organization that was created by the Heads of States and Government of the 15
countries of the Region when they signed its establishing treaty on 28th
May 1975. The
Community covers an area of 6142 square kilometers and has a population of 220 million
inhabitants, about 50 percent of whom are Nigeria.
ECOWAS works to promote co-operation in the region on a range of economic and political
issues including conflict resolution.
Eight countries in the region (Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire, Guinea-Bissau, Mali,
Niger, Senegal and Togo) are members of the West Africa Economy and Monetary Union

(WAEMU) and share a common currency, a common central bank, a development bank, a
regional stock exchange and a common banking regulator.
All the countries of the sub-region have adopted multiparty systems, and a certain degree of
democratization has been reached by some of them, including Ghana, Togo, Senegal, Mali,
and Benin. Other countries, like Cote d’Ivoire, Guinea and Guinea Bissau, witnessed major
crisis that endangered stability and democracy.
High level of poverty and the vulnerability to natural disasters entail enormous difficulties for
the achievement of the full realization of economic, social and cultural life within the sub
region. Food crisis, climate change, migration, and unemployment are both causes and
consequences of the precarious living conditions of the local population.
The Agriculture sector in the ECOWAS region accounts for 36% of GDP of the Community,
and involves about 54% of the active population. The objectives of the sector were; to attain
food security through increased production and agricultural trade, Reduction of poverty by
raising agricultural incomes and Enhanced productivity within the framework of sustainable
natural resource management.
Since the early 1990s, the ECOWAS countries have adopted a series of macro-economic and
institutional reforms to stimulate economic growth. On the agricultural level, the
governments have withdrawn from production activity but continue to coordinate and
monitor individual programmes. On the level of social policy and programmes, the

governments attach particular importance to upgrading human resources, with a view to
attaining sustainable human development. Though the member countries of ECOWAS have
achieved considerable success in agricultural production, a large section of the population,
mostly in the rural areas, do not have access to adequate food and live in poverty with food
insecurity. Besides, the community as a whole, imports large quantities of cereals, livestock
products, both meat and milk, as well as fish and fish products; though these countries are
endowed with huge potential for production of fish. Food security is therefore a priority
concern to the community.
Problem Statement
Despite the huge agricultural potential consisting of large expanses of unexploited
agricultural land, forests, and rivers; West Africa remains one of the poorest region in the
world and suffers from chronic food deficits, high rate of unemployment, high malnutrition
which may be due to many structural and natural challenges confronting the employment
sector, these of which development measuring indices have indicated.
Research Questions:
(1) How does agriculture contribute to job creation in West Africa?
(2) What are the Problems of Agricultural Development in West Africa?

Research Problems:
These include; low productivity, low levels of investment, poor infrastructure in farming
areas, low levels of education amongst farmers, lack of integration of the agricultural sector
with other sectors , poor market integration, land access challenges, especially amongst
women, lack of extension services, low levels of technology and infrastructure resulting into
post-harvest losses (including seed, fertilizer) and limited financial assistance. The highly
unpredictable rainfall patterns in the Sahelian countries compounds the problems.

INTRODUCTION
Agriculture has been a major component of the ECOWAS community ever since the colonial
times, providing countless people (both the rich and the poor) with sustenance and livelihood
all around the world, employing various means and strategies in undertaking it. However, the
field of agriculture does not only comprises of farm land cultivation but it also comprises of
fishing, forestry, crop and land cultivation (involving growing of crops) , livestock rearing
(raising of animals) such as cattle, hen, goats, sheep etc., harvesting timber, and harvesting
other plants and animals from a farm or their natural habitats, these however excludes
hunting. That is, Agricultural activity excludes any subsequent processing of the agricultural
products. Also, for about 70 per cent of the world's poor who reside in rural areas, agriculture
is the main source of income and employment. But depletion and degradation of land and
water pose serious challenges to producing enough food and other agricultural products to
sustain livelihoods here and meet the needs of urban populations. Furthermore, looking at the
existence of agriculture, it can be agreed as a leading sector of African countries laying major
role that is to be put into outmost consideration among countries, some of which would be
further discussed in this work. However, agricultural sector which has been so far intensive,
contributes a larger percentage ratio to the economy, not only in the developed world but
majorly in the African countries, considering the buoyantly free gift of nature embedded in
these countries. And at such, the sector still accounts for about 40-50% per cent of the GDP,
contributes the major earnings of foreign exchange for a stable balance of payments,

employing over 65-75% of the labour force, serving a major means of exchange in trading
system in Africa. Moreover, the currency earned by net exports can make it possible to
import capital goods need for modernization of the economy, as it is usually practised in the
developed world. In addition to these, agriculture also contributes to industrialization either
through the provision of raw materials to the agricultural food industries or through the
purchase of industrial goods, thus stimulating industrial growth. Despite these some
challenges and constraints are still been face with this sector some which this work seeks to
examine. The overall effects of the challenges in agriculture however, restraints the essential
role and impact of agriculture to the African economy. And despite the huge figures
associated with the rate of unemployment in the African countries, stakeholders, young
graduates, professionals still finds it difficult in working in line with the agricultural aspect of
the economy and prefers whit- collar jobs, due to the unavoidable challenges faced in it.
WEST AFRICA: MAIN AGRICULTURAL OR FARMING SYSTEMS.
Pastoralism and sabel fringe
cultivation
Shifting cultivation
Rotational woody bush
fallow
Rotational bush/grass land
fallow
Permanent cultivation

Flood land cultivation
Mixed farming

THE ROLE OF AGRICULTURE IN AFRICA
The role of agriculture contributes a major impact in a country; it could also be regarded as
an inventory of the economic functions. However, with its major contribution to
developmental process its impact depends on the analysis on the effectiveness of its role
within a specific development process determined by a number of factors, such as
government policies, its impact to create a surplus base on expansion of markets, poverty
eradication. However, some of the essential played role could be categorized by:
1. Agriculture as a process of ensuring food security and availability
2. Agriculture as a process of attaining economic growth
3. Agriculture as a means of poverty eradication
4. Agriculture as means of job creation
5. Agriculture as a means of attaining favorable balance of payments
6. Agriculture as a contributing factor to industrialization
Agriculture ensuring food security and availability
According to the FAO, (food and agriculture organization of the United Nations ©2013,
defines food security as a “situation that exists when all people, at all times, have physical,
social, and economic access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food that meets their dietary
needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life”. However, achieve food
availability and security; there is need for agricultural sustainability in to ensure food security
and availability. By sustainability the use of natural resources is kept at a steady level that is
not likely to damage the environment, the result of these sustainability most especially in the

ECOWAS countries would help achieve an outmost food security an availability reducing
rate of sickness, hunger and starvation, malnutrition, and other health related diseases as a
result of food taken into the body. In other word, ensuring sustainability in the use of land for
agriculture helps in overseeing that agricultural activities is been carried out an done in an
efficient and effective manner, that is doing the right thing to derive optimum results.
Sustainable agriculture can be integrated into some beneficial areas. These includes:
environmental sustainability, farm land sustainability, price sustainability, employment
sustainability.
a. Environmental and farm land sustainability: A healthy lifestyle is most typically
associated with the kind of food consumption taking into the body system. However,
agriculture works in accordance with the natural environment that is, healthy soil and
top-soil that stores water and nutrients through photosynthesis and provides a stable
base for support to plant roots. In a sustainable system, soil is kept in balance. Crops
are rotated through the fields to replace nutrients in the soil in addition to livestock,
animal’s wastes to fertilize the soil all these aims at ensuring a healthy nutrient intake
of the soil, which will then be passed on into the body. By environmental
sustainability care is put into consideration to avoid overgrazing of land, tillage,
erosion etc., which can cause damage to the environment. According to the World
Bank group ©2013 environmental depletion and degradation of land and water pose
serious challenges to producing enough food and other agricultural products to sustain
livelihoods here and meet the needs of urban populations. A result of these restraints
the role of agriculture in ensuring food availability leading to starvation and hunger.
b. Price sustainability
c. Employment sustainability

Agriculture as a means of poverty eradication:
Looking at the millennium development goals (MDGs) of 2015; agriculture is typically
recognized as a key part of efforts in reducing global poverty in the achievement of the Goal1
(Eradicating extreme poverty and hunger). This however, relates in many other areas of
policy development work such as forestry, social protection, trade, governance.
Agriculture as a sustainable role to poverty reduction can be recognized on the premises of its
direct impact on farmer’s income through per capita income, GDP, and also rural dwellers.
These formed groups, form the premises because the accounts for large share is contributed
to agriculture; since agricultural productivity helps in attaining higher income, and by
generating patterns of development that are; employment -intensive the benefit would be
realized both urban and rural dwellers.
Agriculture as a process of attaining economic growth:
Economic development is usually a resultant effect of economic growth, an in the process of
development, the improvements of rural standards and also living standards of urban dwellers
in African countries is relatively slow, raising general policy problems. The role of
agriculture is typically seen when agricultural productivity improves, grains and produces are
marked aside for modernization of agriculture and the improvement of rural living standards
(raising per capita income), increase in GNP and GDP etc. the growth of per capita income is
usually one aim of development, aiming at optimum satisfaction of the basic needs of life and
also a major indicator in calculating the rate of economic growth in an economy over a period
of time.

Agriculture helps in attaining favourable balance to payments
According to FAO 2000, it has been established that the share of the agricultural population
in the total populace is 67 per cent, that agriculture accounts for 39.4 per cent of the gross
domestic product (GDP) and that 43 per cent of all exports consist of agricultural goods.
According to (L.MALASSIS, 1975), an analysis of the relationships between the developed
nations and the less developed has made it possible to emphasize the impact of agriculture as
an earner of foreign exchange; (considering the relationship between Nigeria and Britain in
the 1960’s, after crude oil was discovered).
Agriculture contributes to industrialization
Industrialization, by definition identifies the existence or development of a lot of industries in
a country. That is, having an economy based industry. According to (L.MALASSIS, 1975),
agriculture can contribute to industrialization in three ways. These includes: firstly, by
providing workers with capital which illustrates increased productivity from agricultural
work. Secondly, by providing industrial raw materials this implies growth and adaptation of
agricultural production. And lastly, by providing purchasing industrial products, which also
implies a growth in farmers’ purchasing power. Although, agricultural produces and
foodstuffs with comprises relatively abundance in the African countries is usually carried out
in subsistence, the role and analysis of the structure of food production economy shows that
the consumption of manufactured goods is small, however, when extra-value are added in the
agricultural produces more revenues would be obtained because the produces have been
already processed in the final stage of consumption and ready for utilization.

Agriculture has a means of job creation:
Agriculture plays an important role in the economies of African countries an in the
livelihoods of most Africans. Apart, from it supplying food for subsistence it provides
employment and income for populace. It is the main engine for social and economic
development for the majority of Africans and is important for the conservation of land and
natural resources; accounting for large share of the GDP, it also employs a large population
of the labour force with about 50 %- 75% of the population engaged in agriculture. The
development of agriculture is therefore essential to economic growth, forming a crucial
foundation in providing employment. Against this backdrop of globalization and bio-
technological realities, people engaged in agriculture, the value of agriculture export as a
percentage of total exports, share of imports etc. agriculture can rightly be called the
backbone of the economy of most sub-Saharan countries.

THE PROBLEMS OF AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT AND JOB CREATION
IN WEST AFRICA
Today one of the most contentious challenges and debates In African countries is the high
rate of unemployment among its citizen and the negative impediment it has evolved into in
recent times. Nigeria which is a member of the ECOWAS countries experienced an increase
rate of unemployed hands to 23.90 percent in 2011 from the 21.10 percent as of 2010 indices;
on the other hand, unemployment rate in south Africa also increased to 25.20 percent in the
first quarter of 2013 from 24.90 percent in the fourth quarter of 2012
(www.TRADINGECONOMICS.COM/STATISTICSSOUTHAFRICA) with Zimbabwe and
Liberia having 95% and 85% respectively (www.indexmundi.com/g/r/aspx?v=74).
Given the ranging figures and hypothesized indices, in addition to the GDP and GNP rate, it
is obvious of the situations and challenges faced by African countries. Despite the huge
agricultural potentials , characteristics, and attributes consisting of large expanses, land
cultivations, farmlands, forestry, water bodies, oceans, rivers, and developmental attributes
obtain as a free gift of nature in various African countries, the continent still remains poor
and yet under-developed.
In recent times, the agricultural sector had been challenged as a resultant effect, of countless
number of problems. However, these challenges in a simpler term can be categorized into two
main specific are. The areas or challenges the agricultural sector in West Africa. These
problems can be categorized as:

1. farm level constraint
2. Institutional level constraints
These problems poses problem for the farmers in the field themselves, rate of production,
citizens to benefit from the process. Farm- level constraints are peculiar about the farmer
himself while institutional level are usually beyond a farmer’s ability e.g. are policy changes,
having access to extension farmers, production of fertilizers, soil erosion etc. however, these
peculiar characteristics are usually obvious with small scale farmers.
It can however, be understood that majority of the challenges facing the rate of
unemployment and job creation in west Africa can evolved due to various reasons, one of
them the challenges of agricultural growth. This includes:
1. Post- harvest losses: farmers have to harvest their crops as soon as they are matured.
Challenges are encountered as a result of lack of storage facilities, product pricing etc.
at such farm produce get rotten and are damage. However, post-harvest loss is also
usually high in West African countries due to availability of agro- processing
industries to transform farm produces into a better stage of secondary production.
2. Climate change (acid rain): This challenge is usually caused by global warming
arising from human activities (bush burning, deforestation), aerosol sprays, use of
CFCs, exhaust from car etc. a result of this activities arises from acid rain, of which
when such rain falls crop produce are damage through high acidic contents. Example

of these happened in Nigeria as at 2010, when farm produces and animals lives were
destroyed.
3. Lack of adequate education in rural farmers (since most farming activities are carried
out by older people in rural areas which have little or no understanding).
4. Lack of storage facilities resulting into post-harvest losses: most farmers are
challenged with poor storage facilities to the extent that some losses between 25- 30
percent of the total harvest.
5. Lack of transportation network to link farming areas to producing sites also causing
post- harvest losses:
6. Irrigation: (most African countries are located in tropical areas having two season i.e.
wet and dry season)
7. Lack of improved technical facilities to boost farming produce such as tractors and
other heavy machines. In other words, due to the low technological advancement most
West African farmers engage in the use of simple tools such as hoes, cutlass, sticks
etc. in farming cultivation. E.g. in some rural areas in Ghana, the use of sticks is still
been used in firing of gold, and in cultivation of farm land. The use of farming inputs
and improved seeds are usually low, in most cases pre-harvest period are low due to
low inputs, and so they incure loss and sometimes, insect destroys a larger part of the
harvest. Sometimes, modern inputs do not reach them due to poor rural infrastructure
and services.

8. Infant industries and governmental regulation e.g. structural adjustment theory,
dependency theory, etc. affecting the growth of sales of products
9. Lack of stock market and international regulations in competing for better prices for
sales of goods e.g. WTO- (world trade organization), RATTs.
10. Banning of food exports e.g. bird flu in Nigeria in 2005, that killed people causing
people to change in buying locally available hen.
11. Cheaper imports competitiveness than locally manufactured
12. Lack of incentives such as subsides for farmers to encourage agricultural growth
13. Consumer’s irrational attitude, perceptions and Behavior (preferences for western
food e.g. buying of perfume rice in Ghana rather than buying the locally produced
rice).
Given the above listed challenges and constraints these has posed an obstacle in the various
countries affecting employment which in turn affects the GNP and GDP the continent.

RECOMMENDATIONS TO BOOST AGRICULTURAL FOR JOB CREATION IN
WEST AFRICA
Boosting agricultural productivity to enhance job creation is essential to growing populations,
most especially in Africa. Although, about 80- 90 % of this recommendations depends on
governments policies and laws to enforce its implementation, about 10 % of it, depends on
individual behavioral actions to hopefully work accordingly to boost its effectiveness.
However, to achieve and maintain a sustainable process of combating unemployment,
hunger, starvation and other several negative characteristics of poverty in the ECOWAS
communities impeded into the system of growth in the economy, and considering the above
emphasized challenges and problems in agriculture affecting the rate of employment the
following recommendations can be put into consideration to boost the agricultural sector to
create job opportunities in the countries. Some of this shall be discussed, these includes;
Develop agricultural and food industries in order to achieve benefit of export market, of the
value added by manufacturing industries these can help in Improving the import capacity e.g.
the sale of already manufactured goods such as tinned or canned foods instead of cocoa or
rubber, the result of this will boost employment rate because the process of any factor of
production requires labour and through that, more hands will be required to assist in
implementation of the process. In other words, the result of these unemployed hands would
be employed thereby reducing unemployment rate.

However, when profit benefits are properly generated from exported goods, enough funds
would be largely generated in the economy, out of which some of them could be used in
overseeing the developmental needs and improving socio-economic infrastructure in the
economy such as provision of educational amenities, creation of more life sustenance
facilities e.g. hospitals, repairs of roads, and even in creating of more manufacturing and
agro-industries for agricultural products processing, thereby employing again more
unemployed hands, not only in agricultural fields but also in the building and construction
fields because more school, hospitals etc. are constructed. In summary the process and
recommendations can be regarded as cyclical because achieving one innovation steps will out
mostly solve another step which might further bring overall development.
Furthermore, as governments can also improve the sector by ensuring optimum subsidization
of fertilizers inputs and outputs needed in carrying out agricultural activity. The application
of subsidies on farm inputs not only on fertilizers, equipment etc. would encourage more
individuals in field, because the capital needed to start up farming or agricultural activity
would have been considerably reduced.
In addition to these, since growth of agriculture requires employment, more infrastructural
facilities must be provided. That is, there must be infrastructural development like feeder
roads to food growing areas to help in transporting foodstuffs and raw materials to places
where they are needed for optimum further production. Adequate infrastructural development
will prevent foodstuffs and raw materials from going to waste hence encourage farmers to

increase their output. Adequate infrastructure such as water will encourage youngsters and
fresh graduates to stay in rural areas to engage in farming activities
In conclusion, considering the essential role and impact of agriculture to development, the
associated problems facing the sector in relation to employing more hands, the above
recommendations can be considered by west African government in order to boost
agricultural sector and in turn of the process unemployed hands would be employed, thereby
reducing the rate of poverty, hunger and starvation, unemployment etc.

References:
 Diao, X, Hazell, P, Resnick., D. and Thurlow., J. ‘’The Role of Agriculture in
Development : Implications for Sub-Sahara Africa”. Research report / International
Food Policy Research Institute; 153
 ECOWAS agricultural policy (ECOWAP) / Comprehensive African Agriculture
Development Programme (CAADP)
 United Nations Economic commission for Africa .Publication: Harnessing
agricultural Potential for Growth and Development in West Africa
 L.MALASSIS. (1975). Agriculture and Development Process. PARIS. Te. Unesco
press

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