Conclusion and suggested policy recommendations for further engagement The above discussion has pointed out the challenges and opportunities to grow Africa, trade Africa, and move Africa. This section summarises the key recommendations, which focus on how to build robust linkages between the manufacturing and food-industry activities and the rural world, whilst ensuring that intra-African trade is beneficial to all, especially women and youth. The above can be addressed by creating an enabling environment that emphasises government actions, regulations, laws and policies, including the following: • Market access and information: Governments should create agricultural market information systems and physical infrastructure to ensure application and oversight of sustainable power solutions and veterinary regulations and controls. There should not be a barrier to information, which coould lead to a decline in market efficiency. Standards should be disseminated, explained and understood by value chain stakeholders. • Finance: Governments should implement the Maputo Declaration by investing 10% of GDP in agriculture. This will enhance the financing of smallholder farmers through contracting arrangements by agro-processors and traders. • Agricultural inputs and value addition: Tax, cost recovery incentives ( for plants and equipment) and other investment incentives, including a robust dispute settlement mechanism, must be put in place. Governments should plan for climate change-related weather patterns and support the farming communities and agro-processors in cases of external shocks (ie droughts, flooding, bushfires and power failures). It is critical to improve storage and distribution infrastructure, regional road and rail transport linkages, and energy access. For example, transport costs in West Africa are three times higher than in other regions. Lack of energy access limits processing activities across all value chains. The high cost of alternative energy sources, diesel and renewable energy results in low levels of competitiveness. In both traditional and modern agricultural value
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chains, women often face less favourable employment conditions than men. Efforts should therefore be made to ensure gender equality throughout the value chain, as well as to prevent traditional patterns of gender discrimination from being repeated. • Intra-regional trade facilitation: Enforcement of the rule of law in policies that protect contracting firms will be important for trade and regional integration. Governments should promote regulations that permit farmers to secure land and property rights. Efforts should be made to limit customs procedures and corrupt practices as time delays are dangerous for the agricultural sector. It is important to harmonise procedures at a continental level by standardising the list of required documents. The use of ICT through online hubs with trade procedures, transportation and customs documentation is essential. The fight against illegal practices, such as road blockages or illegal fees at customs offices, should be strengthened. Some of the policy issues to consider for the development of the African agricultural sector are as follows: i) Partnering with smallholder farmers to fasttrack the transition into mechanised farming. Stakeholders such as the private sector, NGOs and the government should come together to enhance the transition with the supply of farm inputs, farmer education on technology adoption and its importance towards mitigating climate change risks. ii) On political commitment, policy inconsistency and policy somersault are of great concern in Africa. Africa also needs efficient customs that not only take care of revenue generation, but also allow easy passage of goods and services across borders. iii) Infrastructure in Africa is a major concern as no country on the continent has reached the minimum standard. There is a need for massive investment in technology to make agriculture prominent on the continent and it is now time for the private sector to get involved. iv) Foreign direct investment (FDI) and the possibility of having sustainable and effec-
