Agricultural policy issues in East Africa

Abstract

The Conference on Policy for Agriculture in East Africa was held at Nairobi University in June, 1971. Papers were divided into five groups, the first of which covered policy issues and statements, including an opening address by the Kenyan Minister of Agriculture. D.R. Campbell reflected on some agricultural policy issues, and I. Livingstone examined some requirements for agricultural planning in Tanzania. The second and third sections were concerned with production and pricing policies relating to crop and livestock production in East Africa, as well as including one paper on diversification policy in West Africa. The papers on crops point out the need for individual countries or groups of countries to have strong negotiating teams when determining agreement quotas, prices and policies. Papers covered: cotton in Kenya (T.J. Aldington), tea in East Africa (D.M. Etherington), tree crops in Ivory Coast (H.J.C. Elliott), sisal in Tanzania (M.A.M. Maro). Section three has two complementary papers on dairy policy in Uganda, one on policy generally by H.S.K. Nsuguba and one on smallholder production by V.F. Amann. Papers in section four cover production and marketing policy issues: Problems of vegetable production in Tanzania are discussed in one paper which shows the difficulty of introducing a new marketing innovation (J.D. Heijnen and J. Kreysler). J.B. King examines Mauritius as a monocrop economy attempting to diversify. I. Livingstone looks at producer price and marketing policy for staple foods in Tanzania. G.D. Gwyer examines the lessons of experience of three international commodity agreements (tea, coffee and sisal). R.G. Saylor attempts a social cost/benefit analysis of agricultural research and extension services among smallholders in Kilamanjaro district. The final section contains three papers with policy implications. A.D.R. Ker's paper presents an analysis of the economics of using various sources of farm power in Eastern Uganda. Employment and government production policies are discussed in papers by G.M. Ruigu (Kenya) and E.M. Kulp (Senegal and Mauritius)