Horticulture exports, agro-industrialization, and farm-nonfarm linkages with the smallholder farm sector: evidence from Senegal

In this article we address the question of farm-nonfarm linkages at the household level in Senegal. We examine whether increasing off-farm employment opportunities for rural households-resulting from increased horticulture exports and associated agro-industrialization-has benefitted the smallholder farm sector through investment linkages. We use data from a household survey in the main horticulture export region in Senegal. We find that access to unskilled employment in the export agro-industry has contributed to the alleviation of farmers' liquidity constraints, resulting in increased smallholder agricultural production.