Cotton in West Africa: The economic and social stakes (2006). Book review, OECD publishing, Paris, pp. 127, ISBN: 92-64-022505 7

Since their inception multilateral institutions such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Trade Organisation (WTO) have always been at loggerheads with Africans and African producers. These institutions have been blamed for advancing an agenda that exploits third world countries (3WCs) resources for the benefit of the north, debates at WTO forums have been most acrimonious with the suspension of the Doha ‘development agenda’ trade negotiations in July 2006 due to an impasse on the issue of reforming rich countries’ farm subsidies. The north has been accused of subsidizing its agricultural producers and exporters to the detriment of 3W farmers who try but find it hard to penetrate international markets. It is against this backdrop that the book cotton in West Africa comes in as a welcome contribution that further exposes the mal-trade practices perpetrated by the developed countries.