Why does agriculture contribute relatively little to Gabon’s economy?

Agriculture plays a limited role in Gabon’s economy primarily due to a significant rural exodus, as young people have increasingly migrated to towns and cities in search of better educational and employment opportunities. This shift has left the countryside with a diminished workforce, despite agriculture occupying about one-third of the population.1

Furthermore, the sector has faced historical challenges that hindered productivity, including the prevalence of the tsetse fly, which long impeded livestock development. While the government has attempted to promote agricultural development, these efforts have often yielded only modest results.1

Economically, Gabon’s focus has shifted toward its substantial mineral and energy wealth. Since the early 1970s, the exploitation of resources such as petroleum, manganese, and timber has surpassed agriculture in significance, becoming the primary drivers of the national economy. This reliance on high-value exports has overshadowed the development of the agricultural sector, which struggles to meet domestic food needs.12