Economic developmentinpoorcountriesisoftenhamperedbyurbanbias.Partlyasaresultofhistorical
urban bias,Africancountrieshavebecomeheavilydependentonfoodimportswithconcomitantrisksfor
food securityaswitnessedduringthe2008foodcrisis.Africangovernmentsnowrecognizethatthey
should reverseurbanbiasbyinvestinginagricultureinordertodecreasefoodimportdependency.
However,theytypicallyfocusprimarilyonsupply-shiftinginvestmentsthatmaybeinsufficient torender
domestically producedfoodcompetitive,particularlyinimport-biasedfoodmarkets.Wereviewthe
national ricedevelopmentinvestmentstrategiesof19Africancountriesandarguethatinorderto
reverseurbanbiasinAfricanricemarkets,moreresourceswillneedtobeallocatedtovalue-addingand
demand-liftinginvestments.