Abstract
This chapter aims to study the impact of government policies on cross-border cattle marketing in Africa. It analyzes the geographical patterns of cattle trade in the pre-colonial, colonial and post-colonial periods and examines the main reasons for the increase, decline or diversion of cross-border cattle trade paying specific attention to government policies.
The volume of this trade in Sub-Saharan Africa, which is often long distance trade, became significant when the colonial economy developed. Population growth, export production and increased incomes triggered demand for meat in newly emerging consumption areas. Whereas in West Africa colonial trade policies contributed little to this expansion, government interventions in East and Southern Africa had more impact. However, despite the stronger grip of the state on cattle marketing in East and Southern Africa, much of the cross-border cattle trade in these regions was in the hands of private traders as in West Africa. In the post-colonial era, government interventions increased through the creation of cattle and meat marketing boards. In West Africa many of these boards never functioned properly but in East and Southern Africa their impact was substantial. Most were nevertheless dismantled under structural adjustment programmes.
The chapter concludes that changes in supply caused by (civil) wars and droughts, and changes in demand caused by rising and falling economic prosperity have had the most significant impact on cross-border cattle trade. Notwithstanding the differences between West Africa on the one hand and East and Southern Africa on the other, government policies aiming at intervention in cattle marketing have only temporarily and marginally affected cross-border trade. Slightly more important have been the general economic policies causing, for example, changes in the value of the national currency. Private cattle traders are acknowledged for their remarkable responsiveness to both short- and long-term opportunities which the cross-border cattle trade, legal or illegal, offers them.
The volume of this trade in Sub-Saharan Africa, which is often long distance trade, became significant when the colonial economy developed. Population growth, export production and increased incomes triggered demand for meat in newly emerging consumption areas. Whereas in West Africa colonial trade policies contributed little to this expansion, government interventions in East and Southern Africa had more impact. However, despite the stronger grip of the state on cattle marketing in East and Southern Africa, much of the cross-border cattle trade in these regions was in the hands of private traders as in West Africa. In the post-colonial era, government interventions increased through the creation of cattle and meat marketing boards. In West Africa many of these boards never functioned properly but in East and Southern Africa their impact was substantial. Most were nevertheless dismantled under structural adjustment programmes.
The chapter concludes that changes in supply caused by (civil) wars and droughts, and changes in demand caused by rising and falling economic prosperity have had the most significant impact on cross-border cattle trade. Notwithstanding the differences between West Africa on the one hand and East and Southern Africa on the other, government policies aiming at intervention in cattle marketing have only temporarily and marginally affected cross-border trade. Slightly more important have been the general economic policies causing, for example, changes in the value of the national currency. Private cattle traders are acknowledged for their remarkable responsiveness to both short- and long-term opportunities which the cross-border cattle trade, legal or illegal, offers them.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Agricultural Marketing in Tropical Africa |
| Subtitle of host publication | Contributions of the Netherlands |
| Editors | H. Laurens van der Laan, Tjalling Dijkstra, Aad van Tilburg |
| Place of Publication | London |
| Publisher | Routledge |
| Pages | 205-226 |
| Number of pages | 22 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 1999 |