Trends, Prospects, and Barriers in Promoting Regional Trade in Pulses/Legumes in the ECOWAS Region Under AfCFTA Regime

Abstract

Trade in agricultural products plays a particularly crucial role in addressing food security and reduction of poverty. By making the ability of the continent to feed itself a priority goal in the Malabo Declaration, African leaders shared renewed faith in agriculture, and showed how stepped-up investments in production and distribution can make a strong contribution towards the attainments of goals of the African Continental Free Trade Area agreement (AfCFTA). Food security goes beyond quantity of food available to inclusion of nutritious diets in households' menu. These commodities are vital to the attainment of food and nutritional security, soil conservation, and, if commercially produced in efficient systems, can boost ECOWAS participation in African trade. This chapter therefore examines the prospects for promoting trade in pulses and legumes within the ECOWAS region in the context of the AfCFTA protocol, paying particular attention to trends, prospects and barriers and where there are flexibilities that allow for beneficial and productive policy intervention.