Competitive Agricultural Systems and Enterprises (CASE): A Grassroots Approach to Agribusiness Development in Sub-Saharan Africa
Date
2011
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) grapples with significant developmental challenges, particularly in economic progress, poverty, and food insecurity, with rural communities bearing the brunt of vulnerability. Agricultural development is paramount for these communities and for overall economic growth in the region. Recent debates highlight the importance of enhancing agricultural growth to spur development, emphasizing linkages between farm and rural non-farm sectors, and rural-urban relationships. This guide proposes a novel pathway for agricultural intensification and market development in SSA, advocating for a grassroots approach, termed Competitive Agricultural Systems and Enterprises (CASE). Developed by IFDC, CASE emphasizes agribusiness cluster formation, value chain development, and transaction governance capacities. It integrates competition and coordination, promoting local ownership, empowerment, and economic sustainability. The document outlines the theoretical framework, implementation strategies, and experiences, emphasizing context sensitivity and caution against one-size-fits-all solutions.
Description
Keywords
Agricultural systems, Agribusiness, Agribusiness, Poverty alleviation