Restructuring Agricultural Delivery Systems In Sub-Saharan Africa : A Case Study Of Zimbabwe

The thesis of the paper is that African smallholders, while numerically dominant in the agricultural systems of the continent, have been largely ignored in the evolution of agricultural policy. With respect to the provision of delivery systems, governments have typically favored the establishment of parastatal boards. The evidence suggests1 that these boards have performed poorly.’ Case studies of parastatals in Zimbabwe are used to illustrate how, in terms of’ delivery systems, it is necessary to mobilize both producer initiative' and government resource's in order to devise, systems -..that.’ effectively and efficiently. serve the:'smallholder producer. The argument is developed: that/the effectiveness- of agricultural delivery systems can be substantially improved by changing.the role of the state in their operation from that of manager to that of referee.