After decades of underinvestment and policy neglect, agricultural development in emerging economies has quickly risen up the priority list for global development. In the wake of the 2008 food price crisis the international development community, governments and businesses are looking to developing regions – particularly Africa – to play a key role in ensuring global food security.
Yet the sector continues to suffer from underdevelopment, with the vast majority of agricultural output in regions such as Africa in the hands of smallholder farmers. Harnessing their productive potential is key, yet most struggle to meet their own food demand, talkless of producing for national, regional and global markets.
With in depth coverage, analysis and perspectives from leading thinkers, This Is Africa takes a close look at the state of agriculture in developing regions and how value chains can be transformed to put the smallholder farmers at the heart of development.