Sub-Saharan Africa accounts for only 4 percent of world fish production and 2 percent of world exports. However, the region has seen a significant relative increase in fish catch and export during the last two decades. While the export value of total fish grew on average by 7.4 and 1.6 percent annually in the world during 1982-1991 and 1992-2001, respectively, the corresponding figures for SSA were 8.8 and 5.8 percent. Southern and West Africa did particularly well, with export growth of 8.9 and 10.8 percent, and 10.9 and 3 percent, respectively. East Africa, with corresponding growth rates of 7.5 and 2.3 percent during the last two decades, did not fair badly either. A triennial average (2001-2003) value of fish export from SSA countries is now equivalent to 20 percent of the export revenues from cotton.
Marine fishing accounts for two-third of the fish catch, and more than 90 percent of the landings occur on the West Coast. The volume of fish landed has been fluctuating in the Southeast Atlantic (Angola and further south), while it has been growing steadily in the coasts north of Angola. It is important to note that about 25 percent to 30 percent (between 1.5 and 2.0 million tonnes annually) of marine fish captured in African waters is accounted for by vessels from non-African states (e.g. Russia and European countries), and remains unrecorded as African fish output.
Freshwater fish contributes about one third of landings in SSA, a higher share than recorded for most other continents. In 2001, inland fish production per capita in Chad, Gabon, Mali, Republic of the Congo, Tanzania and Uganda were higher (8 Kg live-weight equivalent or above) than in any other country except Cambodia (FAO, 2003). However, aquaculture remains modest, with significant production taking place only in Madagascar and Nigeria.
Box 4.1: Main points on performance of agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa and conclusions
- Agriculture is prominent in the economies of most SSA countries, accounting 20 to 60 percent of GDP.
- Agriculture is the primary source of export earnings in all but the mineral-rich and developed countries, which are few, and the most important source of employment.
- Agricultural GDP growth in characterized by ups and downs, but in recent years, annual growth has been around 3.9 percent. Performance of Central Africa is hampered by conflict and Southern Africa by the increase of occurrence of droughts.
- SSA share of the global agricultural export market contracted from 8 percent in the 1960s to 2 percent in recent years, and the number of countries with agricultural trade surplus decreased from 37 in the 1960s to 20 in recent years. Even in those countries with trade surpluses, imports are increasing faster and value of export is declining.
- Cereals, especially maize and rice, are the most important staple food, but performance has been characterized by fluctuating and low annual growth rates (1.5 percent average since 1995). Oil crops and pulses have seen similar evolution.
- Cassava has been the best performing food crop, particularly in West Africa. Annual growth rate increased from 2.8 percent in the 1960s and 1970s to 6.5 percent since the mid- 1980s. It is also gaining ground in Southern and East Africa.
- Fruit and vegetables have become an important export crop, export value growing at an annual average of 5.3 percent between 1961to 2003.
- Coffee, tea, cocoa and cotton, which represent 40 to 50 percent of SSA agricultural exports, have performed unevenly. After a good period in the 1960s and early 1970s, they suffered a setback and have since grown slowly. Tea stands out as a success, as it continued to grow at around 3.8 percent albeit concentrated in a few countries. Yet SSA still accounts for 69 percent of world cocoa production with 98 percent of it coming from four West and Central African countries.
- Milk and meat production growth has been below population increase, despite some localized successes.
- SSA fish catch and export increased in the last two decades at the rate of 8.8 percent and 5.8 percent, respectively, with Southern and West Africa doing particularly well. Marine fishing accounts for two-thirds of fish catch in SSA, and more than 90 percent of the landings occur on the West Coast. Between 25 and 30 percent of marine fish is by vessels from non-African states and remains unrecorded as African fish output.
Conclusions
The performance of agriculture in SSA has been disappointing and below what is needed if it is to play a role of lead sector for development and food security. However, the alleged negative impact of structural adjustment programmes on agriculture is not confirmed by figures: African agriculture has grown more rapidly in recent years than in the years preceding reform. Additional analysis would, however, be required to understand better to whose benefit was the growth of agriculture observed after 1985, and why it has not translated into a commensurate improvement of food security.
Apart from cassava, food production has been growing slowly. Among exports, tea and fruits and vegetables are relative successes. In chapter 6, we analyse the factors that explain some of the advances made. The next chapter will review the key constraints that have been hindering agricultural development in SSA countries.