Potential for agricultural trade in COMESA region: a comparative study of Sudan, Egypt and Kenya

Abstract

This paper aimed at quantifying the potentials of intra-regional agricultural trade in the COMESA region
taking examples of Sudan, Egypt and Kenya. Different indicators and indices like instability index,
production similarity index, comparative production performance index, export similarity index and
revealed comparative advantage index were used. The results showed a promising potential for intraregional agricultural trade. The instability indices of production in cereals, pulses, and roots and tubers
were more stable at regional level than national one. The results of production similarity index indicate
differences in production patterns of the three countries. Export similarity indices results show that
countries are dissimilar in their export patterns. The revealed comparative advantage indices,
considering each country separately, are generally higher for dominant export products. As dominant
products differ among the countries the pattern of specialization differs considerably among these
countries, and therefore, there is a potential for expanding intra-regional trade in the region. The paper
concluded that the government policies of COMESA member countries, especially Sudan, should pay
more emphasis to encourage integrating their markets regionally to benefits from potential of trade and
comparative advantage exist in the region.