Traders, agricultural entrepreneurs and the development of cross-border regions in West Africa

Abstract

This paper examines the economic and spatial logics of traders and farmers located between Niger, Benin and Nigeria, with a view to identifying possible complementarities and their implications for regional integration in West Africa. It shows that the development of cross-border regions is highly dependent on the combination of two divergent spatial logics, i.e. the circulation developed by traders and the production developed by agricultural investors. Even though cross-border traders and farmers pursue divergent strategies, the paper suggests that the activities of both are centred on urban border markets. Consequently, investment in border market facilities could promote both trading and productive activities simultaneously in a number of countries. In this regard, the paper underscores the potential benefit of focusing development on functional economic areas rather than on nation-states, addressing concerns that border trade may undermine productive development.

Keywords:

• traders
• agricultural entrepreneurs
• cross-border development
• border markets
• West Africa

Acknowledgements

Financial support from the Geneva International Academic Network (GIAN) and the University of Lausanne is gratefully acknowledged. Moustapha Koné from the University of Niamey provided excellent research assistance. The author also thanks the National Research Fund of Luxembourg (FNR) for its support.