Towards economic integration and development of Africa : Project Profiles submitted to the European Union

Abstract

Africa is primarily rural. Its economy base is generally agriculture, which is mostly operated by small farmers. The small farmer in Africa own and/or operate about two hectares of rain-fed, low flooding, and semi-arid land. Its technique of production is traditional its risk-bearing capacity is low and thus also the present rating of its credit worthy If African agriculture has to take off, then high productivity of farms is required. Which means more investment in capital expenditure and off farm inputs are needed. Today, such investments are not possible by the small farmer out of its own resources or loan given institutions requirements. The small farmers, most of whom are rural women, are engaged in the rural informal credit sector. They have considerable production potential, which remained untapped, thus, obliging them to continue to remain needlessly below the absolute poverty line.