Movements of relative agricultural prices in sub-Saharan Africa

Abstract

Movements of relative agricultural prices in 20 countries in sub-Saharan Africa between 1973 and 1999-95 are investigated. Changes in the net barter terms of trade of the agricultural sector are compared with international terms of trade movements. Movements in prices received by cocoa, coffee, cotton and tea farmers are compared with unit export prices and with indicators of production costs. World price movements for the same commodities are compared with unit export prices of major exporting countries. A similar analysis is undertaken for cereals, where producer prices are compared with unit import prices and with cost indicators. Possible factors that affect these relative price movements are discussed with special emphasis on the role of alternative policy regimes. Empirical findings suggest that conventional views on the anti-farmer bias of African policies till the 1980s are questionable and the recent liberalisation of agricultural markets in Africa have not generated farmer-friendly outcomes. Copyright 2001 by Oxford University Press.