Towards an integrated market for seeds and fertilizers in west Africa
This World Bank Group (WBG) working paper (PDF), explores the development of integrated regional markets and agricultural input supply chains for farmers in West Africa. The paper is a result of consultations with seed, fertilizer, and regional trade experts in the region. The work was undertaken as background to a larger World Bank volume on “Regional Food Staples Trade in West Africa”. The working paper offers recommendations to build on the progress of West African governments that have worked on the development of trade rules and quality control methods. Key messages include increasing regional collaboration on seed and fertilizer and other suggestions to complement long-term harmonization. For example, the creation of a knowledge platform on inputs is proposed as a way to support short-term improvements and long-term harmonization. Constraints in private competition of fertilizer supply and seed variety development was highlighted as a possible threat.