Harnessing the potentials of the cash crops trading market in West Africa

The agricultural sector is vital to the economy of West Africa. In addition to being the biggest employer of labour in the region, it contributes more than 25% to the total Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the countries in the region, based on data polled from the World Bank Group and KPMG analysis.

Furthermore, the sector provides raw materials for the industrial sector and ensures food and income security.

The productive activities captured under this sector broadly include crop production, forestry, poultry and fishing. Crop production is a main component of the sector, with cocoa, cashew and sesame among the most lucrative exports from the region. Despite the importance of the sector, there are significant opportunities to further deepen its impact across the region. In the face of growing concerns around food security, Governments across the region are renewing the focus on crop production by developing policies to boost investments and activities significantly.

A key feature of the agricultural sector is the commodity exchange markets, which facilitate local trading and exports of crop produce. Crops traded in these markets include cocoa beans/powder, sesame seeds, raw cashew nuts, wheat, soyabeans, oats, cotton, castor oil, sugarcane, etc. 1  These cash products have high growth and revenue potentials. 

Click here to read the full publication.

Contacts