Private investment in agricultural biotechnology research by seed companies is increasingly rapidly. The privatization of intellectual property, and the associated emergence of the private sector as the major force in agricultural technology generation, is beginning to have a profound impact on farmers and researchers in industrial and developing countries. The report looks at intellectual property […]
In the last few years there has been increasing interest in establishing competitive grants programs in agricultural research in developing countries. In donor funded projects, these programs are often seen as a complement to the ongoing research programs, undertaken through regular long term research funding, but which often pose the risk of being viewed as […]
Aid to African Agriculture: Lessons from Two Decades of Donors’ Experience
The book opens with an overview of the broad trends in donor assistance to the six countries under investigation and an analysis of country performance based on data from the records of governments and donors. Discussions are organized around several topics: 1) the policies donors adopted toward promoting agriculture; 2) how recipients ‘ perceptions of […]
Pursuit of Sustainable Development: Global Debates and Local Agricultural Mgmt Systems in Africa
Concerns about sustainability have acquired center stage in the debate on economic development. Depending on the precise nature of the concern, sustainability issues are typically discussed either at the local or the global level. Yet interrelationships between global, national and local levels help define the problem more accurately and to identify solutions with regard to […]
The rural road question and Nigeria’s agricultural development
One of the critical problems of Nigeria ‘ s agricultural sector is the inadequate or nonexistent supporting physical infrastructure such as rural roads, storage and marketing facilities, and water supply. This paper comprises a discussion of the extent of the rural roads network and the consequences of its growth on Nigerian agriculture during the 1970 […]
Fertilizer policy in Africa : lessons from development programs and adjustment lending, 1970-87
The removal of fertilizer subsidies, and privatization of importation and distribution networks have been prominent features of recent policy reforms in MADIA countries to reduce budget deficits and the role of the public sector. This paper reviews the reform policies implemented during the 1980s in the MADIA countries and their impact on the development of […]
Markets, marketing boards, and cooperatives in Africa: issues in adjustment policy
The structural adjustment efforts under way since the early 1980s have emphasized the liberalization of agricultural prices and markets and have led to a vigorous debate about the appropriate roles of the private and public sectors. This paper examines the causes of state intervention prior to independence as well as post-independence experience with marketing parastatals […]