International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics
Abstract
Market transactions in rural areas of sub-Saharan
Africa (SSA) are usually small, because the markets
are thin and point-to-point transportation of
commodities is difficult. The prices offered are not
competitive and volumes traded are usually season
dependent. Where market infrastructure is weak
and under-developed, liberalization and structural
adjustment policies have not been able to improve
market access; and the private sector has failed
to make the investments needed for proper and
effective market coordination
