ANALYSIS OF TRENDS IN PRODUCTION, CONSUMPTION AND TRADE IN THE AFRICAN ONIONS MARKET

Onions are a crucial agricultural commodity in Africa contributing significantly to both domestic consumption and international trade. It requires attention due to the African Continental Free Trade Agreement that encourages regional integration on the continent. The onion industry dynamics in Africa is a complex interplay of factors such as climatic conditions, farming practices, pricing and consumer dynamics and market access that shapes production volumes, quality, trade, and ultimately the livelihoods of millions engaged in onion farming and trade. The study for the first time investigates trends in onion production, consumption and trade among the five African regions, comprising North Africa, West Africa, Central Africa, East Africa and Southern Africa. By so doing, provides insights on the performance of the onion sector from the lens of production, consumption and trade. Data for the study was drawn from the database of the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations and cover 1961-2022 (62 years), broken down into three periods to ease comparison (1961 - 1980), (1981 - 2000,) and (2001 - 2022). The specific objectives of the study were to: 1. analyze the growth rates in onion production, consumption and trade across different regions of Africa. 2. estimate the doubling time in onion production, consumption, and trade across different regions of Africa. 3. evaluate the contribution of area and yield to the growth of onion production across different African regions. The findings from the study show that yield has not kept up with expansion in areas across Africa, despite both increased growth in consumption and trade. The study recommends investment in modern high-yielding production technology and training across Africa, especially in West Africa in order to increase growth in onions yield.