Overview: Agriculture in the Commonwealth
Commonwealth countries, many of which are developing, are farmed largely by families as small-holdings. For the most part agriculture ensures food security and employment in the Commonwealth where more than half of the population in 31 of the 53 countries, reside in rural areas. Naturally, commercial or mechanised methods predominate in agricultural production in the industrialised part of the Commonwealth. Ghana, Rwanda, Solomon Islands, Nigeria and Sierra Leone have the greatest dependence on agriculture* – all above 35% of GDP – whereas at the other end of the scale the more developed Trinidad and Tobago, Brunei Darussalam, United Kingdom, Australia and Canada rely the least on agriculture* with GDP contributions all below 3%.
*includes fisheries and forestries
Commonwealth initiatives in agriculture
The Royal Agricultural Society of the Commonwealth (RASC) is the most active agricultural organisation in the association of nations. The organisation, which promotes itself as ‘Commonwealth Civil Society representing agriculture’, has organised over 20 international conferences since its foundation in 1957. Working through its membership of over 50 leading national and regional agricultural societies and research bodies, it has brought together the talents of agricultural experts from around the Commonwealth in advancing farming methods in developing member countries.
A specialised department at the Commonwealth Secretariat, the Enterprise and Agriculture Section, is working to strengthen agricultural and enterprise competitiveness, particularly at the level of small and medium-sized enterprises. The department assists with sectoral strategy and policy formulation and building institutional capacity to enhance competitive advantage.
