The links between trade-related policy reforms and food security is of key concern to many developing countries. This publication sets out the findings of 15 country case studies from Cameroon, Chile, China, Ghana, Guatemala, Guyana, India, Kenya, Malawi, Morocco, Nigeria, Peru, Senegal, Tanzania and Uganda. The coverage includes countries at different stages of development with the main focus on low-income countries that are likely to be at greater risk of food insecurity. The studies examine the impact of trade-related policy reforms on agricultural prices, production and trade, and the consequences for food security issues for each country.

This study examines whether major Nigerian export firms exert market power over Nigerian cocoa farmers in the form of incomplete price transmission. A common indicator of efficient and functioning markets is the presence of a high level of market integration, while a lack of integration could be an indication of private traders’ market power. This study pays special attention to export firms’ pricing behavior in the post-liberalization period. Our analyses are based on (i) monthly firm-level price data from major Nigerian cocoa beans exporting companies and (ii) monthly farm gate prices between 1986 and 2009.