MACMILLAN The Palgrave Handbook of Agricultural and Rural Development in Africa

This handbook examines agricultural and rural development in Africa from theoretical, empirical and policy stand points. It discusses the challenges of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and assesses how poverty and other development concerns can be addressed in rural communities through agricultural transformation. Additionally, the handbook extends the Post-2015 Development Agenda and it emphasizes the importance of the agricultural sector as it is closely related to the issues of food sustainability, poverty reduction, and employment creation. The contributors suggest multiple evidence-based policies to develop the rural areas through the transformation of the agricultural sector which can significantly benefit the African continent. Review ‘I would like to congratulate Evans Osabuohien for bringing together so many scholars, especially Africans within the continent and in the Diaspora, to share their insights on relevant issues that matter for the transformation of Africa’s agriculture. This transformation is truly a critical facet of Africa’s general economic development prospects.’ ―    Jann Lay, Professor, German Institute of Global and Area Studies (GIGA), Hamburg  University of Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany   ‘This is a remarkable book that highlights important and timely agricultural issues affecting Africa’s rural poor. In addition to increasing the knowledge base, providing policy-relevant “food for thought” and pushing forward development efforts, The Palgrave Handbook of Agricultural and Rural Development in Africa serves as a solid reference point for future scholars, researchers and policy makers interested in informing and executing disruptive innovations in rural spaces on the African continent.’ ―    Uche Ekhator-Mobayode, Assistant Professor of Economics, University of Pittsburgh at Bradford, USA   ‘An exceptionally rich and comprehensive volume that provides an in-depth view of issues relating to agricultural and rural development in Africa and addresses pertinent policy questions. This is an important book, examining agricultural transformation from different perspectives across different countries on the continent to raise arising concerns, discuss impacts and provide helpful policies and recommendations. Astonishing scholarship, I hope this volume become a standard in the literature on development economics on Africa.’ ―    Samuel Amponsah, President of the African Finance and Economic Association (AFEA), Institute for International Strategy, Tokyo International University, Japan   ‘Unlike the previous publications on the subject, this book brings together the work of people who are concerned and knowledgeable about the dynamics of rural development and the channels through which transformation in agricultural land investments, production, processing, and other value chain activities boost productivity, income and employment for people living and working in rural areas in many African countries. By focusing on agricultural and rural development in Africa, this book has given the plights of poor farmers the special attention and efforts they deserve. Ultimately, the future success of initiatives to alleviate poverty, create employment and increase the livelihood of households in Africa is in the hands of Africans themselves and the competencies of its training institutes and research organizations. It provides a platform for African researchers to showcase their proficiencies in producing high quality research with robust and more widely applicable results.’ ―    Jacinta Nwachukwu, Professor, Lancashire School of Business and Enterprise,  University of Central Lancashire, UK ‘This book, which looks at agricultural and rural development in Africa, is timely and dovetails very well with the current African and international development agenda with respect to African Union Agenda 2063 and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).