PARTICIPATION OF AGRIBUSINESS SECTOR SMALL AND MEDIUM SCALE ENTERPRISES (SMEs) IN THE AFRICAN CONTINENTAL FREE TRADE AREA (AfCFTA); CHALLENGES AND PROSPECTS

Abstract

This article examines how Small and Medium Scale Enterprises in the Agribusiness sector of the African economy can effectively participate in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) in relation to the various challenges facing Agribusiness SMEs, the prospects of Agribusiness SMEs under the AfCFTA, and the necessary governmental policies that can facilitate the participation of Agribusiness SMEs in intra-Africa trade through the AfCFTA. This article suggests that without adequate government policies put in place to address the challenges of SMEs in the Agribusiness sector in intra-Africa trade, many Agribusiness SMEs will be unable to participate and compete effectively under the AfCFTA which may lead to continuous stunted growth of this sector, thus preventing the impact of the AfCFTA from being felt in this sector and the AfCFTA not reaching its full potential.