The Origins of Agricultural Policy in Ivory Coast 1960–86

There is a more limited degree of ‘urban bias’ in Côte d’Ivoire than in most other African countries. Different explanations for relatively high producer price shares, reliable extension services, etc. are required for the periods 1960–70 and 1970–86. The arguments offered focus on the composition of the income portfolios of senior political elites and on the rise of special kinds of urban, informal associations that have acted as lobbying organisations on behalf of rural household members. The article seeks to dispel the notion that differences in opportunities for political participation alone can account for the variations in the outcomes observed in the African cases.