Analysis of Agri-Food Trade Structures
To Promote Agri-Food Trade Networks
In the Islamic Countries
99
Poor infrastructure and inadequate facility assessment
Efforts to facilitate cross-border trade are essential because of inadequate interconnected
national transport networks. Despite the necessity of road transit, only an estimated 20% of the
regional road network amongst Central African members of ECCAS countries are asphalted.103
The region faces equally complex challenges in its ports. The ports are short on capacity and
unable to handle the traffic volume adequately contributing to inefficiencies, elevated waiting
periods for goods and high transport costs.104 The infrastructure challenges also occur in
railway transport systems. Much of the rail systems are either underused or unconnected from
other member countries.105
Poor infrastructure characterized by poor quality and gaps in roads, energy and ICT
(Information, Communication and Technology) connectivity create irregularities that impede
predictability in transport systems and translates to traders as hidden costs. These
shortcomings in infrastructure networks increase the cost of doing business and negatively
impact the competitiveness of goods. Consequently, in Africa, deficient infrastructure reduces
output by 2% every year.106
The OIC can invest in capacity building measures that help member countries articulate multi-
country comprehensive, integrated multimodal regional transport as well as logistics
investment and reform programs that work together to address challenges. The policy can be
structured around consensus building, for boosting South-South trade, reducing logistics and
transport costs as well as improving overall governance. This collaboration could in the short-
term be implemented through joint efforts on trade facilitation e.g. the framework of regional
programs funded by the African Development Bank and implemented by ECCAS towards the
implementation of the WTO trade facilitation agreement. The program currently focuses on
customs-centric efforts towards compliance with the various articles of the agreement. There is
a need for completing this with actions aimed at enhancing the business environment through
policy reforms for addressing the systemic drivers of high transactions cost, including capacity
building and coalition for minimizing rent-seeking behaviors /fighting corruption.
Capacity Constraints and Support for Industrialization
Fostering industrialization within Cameroon's agricultural sector is a critical strategy for
improving the economic opportunities available in the region; this applies to all of Cameroon’s
OIC neighbors. The African Union had developed the Agenda 2063 that outlines a vision of
economic growth through industrialization of African countries. The agenda identifies
modernized agriculture and "increased production, productivity and value addition that
contributes to farmer and national prosperity and Africa’s collective food security”, as key pillars
for fostering structural transformation. 107 Overall policy efforts such as Agenda 2063 offer
Cameroon and African countries more broadly the opportunity to transform their economies by
103 Ibid.
104 Nathan Associates Inc.. (2013). Logistics Cost Study of Transport Corridors in Central and West Africa. Arlington: Nathan
Associates INC.
105 Ibid.
106 Ibid.
107 (2015). Agenda 2063- The Africa We Want. Final Edition. Available at