Jalloh, A and Faye, M D and Roy-Macauley, H and Sereme, P and Zougmore, R B and Thomas, T S and Nelson, G C (2013) Overview. In: West African agriculture and climate change: A comprehensive analysis. IFPRI’s climate change in Africa series . International Food Policy Research Institute, Washington, pp. 1-35. ISBN 978-0-89629-204-8
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Abstract
The part of Africa designated as West Africa is made up of 16 countries— Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo. Its land area is about 5 million square kilometers, and its population in 2010 was about 290 million. With the exception of Mauritania, these countries are members of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). The subregion comprises a diversified agricultural base spread over a wide range of agroecological zones with significant potential for improved agricultural productivity. Agriculture is the major source of livelihood for the majority of West Africans. The agricultural sector employs 60 percent of the active labor force but contributes only 35 percent of gross domestic product (GDP). The disparity between contribution to GDP and share of population means that many West African farmers are very poor, producing close to subsistence levels and facing numerous constraints such as droughts, soil acidity, and nutrientdepleted and degraded soils that impinge on agricultural development. The most important foodcrops grown and consumed in West Africa are cereals— sorghum, millet, maize, and rice; roots and tubers—cassava, sweet potatoes, and yams; and legumes—cowpeas and groundnuts. Major cash crops are cocoa, coffee, and cotton...
| Item Type: | Book Section |
|---|---|
| Divisions: | UNSPECIFIED |
| CRP: | UNSPECIFIED |
| Series Name: | IFPRI’s climate change in Africa series |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | Crops, Climate change, Agriculture, Food security Agricultural development, Sustainability, Agricultural policy |
| Subjects: | Others > Climate Change Others > African Agriculture Others > West Africa |
| Depositing User: | Mr Ramesh K |
| Date Deposited: | 17 Jul 2018 08:22 |
| Last Modified: | 17 Jul 2018 08:31 |
| URI: | http://oar.icrisat.org/id/eprint/10795 |
| Acknowledgement: | UNSPECIFIED |
| Links: | |
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