Agricultural Policies and Development in the Sahel

Few populations in the world are so dependent on agriculture for their livelihoods as much as those in the Sahel—and this remains the case, despite rapid urbanization and environmental change. Agricultural policies that help the agricultural sector become more sustainable, more productive, and more attractive to youth are widely regarded as an essential precondition for spurring rural development and improving food security and nutrition. The challenges are multiple though, and far beyond the technical, as the realm of agricultural sector interventions is characterized by opposing priorities, historical inertia due to colonial and postcolonial legacies, and powerful interest groups. The chapter illustrates the interplay between these complex factors with specific examples on the cotton, rice, and dairy sub-sectors in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Senegal. It concludes with some reflections on the influence of donors, regional organizations, and security crises on the prospect for agricultural development and food security in the region.