Improving Agricultural Market Performance:
Creation and Development of Market Institutions
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3.2 Agricultural & Food Market Institutions in the OIC
To address these challenges requires substantial change to policies and the institutions that
administer them. The market system of the food and agriculture sector is unique because of
social concerns intrinsically tied to the sector’s success or failure. As a result, the policies and
institutions are not confined to agriculture and food but encompass broader social protection
measures, as well as the business environment and investment climate and associated
institutions, and fiscal and monetary policies and institutions.
There is considerable variation on the scope, depth, and comprehensiveness in the
administration of food and agricultural markets. To some degree, this variation is correlated
with the size of the nation and the corresponding organizational capacity of its administrative
capabilities, as well as of the nation’s general capacity as an agricultural producer.
contains a full
listing of the Member Countries of the OIC, their line Ministries, and their key market
institutions according to the classification outlined in the Conceptual Framework of Chapter 1.
While these are of course not the only institutions that affect the function of markets within
and between nations, they are the primary institutions that are directly controlled by the state,
and therefore deserve special attention.
3.2.1 Line Ministries and Regulation Authorities
 Ministries of Agriculture – Specific Ministries of Agriculture are present in almost all
members of the OIC, although sometimes the ministries’ mandates are combined with
other areas of interest, such as water, the environment, and forests. In the case of
maritime nations (such as Maldives), the Department of Agriculture functions are
housed within the Ministry of Fisheries and Agriculture.
Ministries of Agriculture have as their mandate not only the regulation of agricultural
processes and markets, but also has the mission of promoting the agricultural sector
and – in many cases – of supporting agricultural development and rural areas. As such
– and because of their universality - they are a key Government sector partner in the
development of food and agricultural markets. Examples of nations in which
ministries’ mandates are combined with other areas of interest include:
o Burkina Faso’s Ministry of Agriculture and Water Infrastructure is responsible
for crop agriculture, rural development, and water affairs, and there is a
separate Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries.
o Algeria has a Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development, and Fisheries, which
is also responsible for the livestock sector, as well as a Ministry of Water
Affairs.
o In the UAE, agriculture falls under the responsibility for the Ministry of Climate
Change and Environment, whose portfolio includes environment, water
resources, agriculture, livestock, fisheries, countering desertification, and
biodiversity conservation.
 Ministries of Supply – Most Arab countries have historically had a Ministry of Supply,
or a Supply Directorate within a Ministry of Commerce or Economy. Where in place,
the Ministry of Supply is usually in addition to and not a replacement for the Ministry