Agricultural subsidies play a central role in the stability of food systems and the security of producers' incomes. They help offset the effects of climate risks and price fluctuations on international markets, and support vulnerable, often small, farms. These subsidies also contribute to social cohesion by maintaining a minimum standard of living in rural areas and preventing tensions related to agricultural poverty. Their social effectiveness depends heavily on targeting. Without precise mechanisms, subsidies disproportionately benefit medium and large farms, leaving smaller farms behind, thus exacerbating rural inequalities.

However, their economic impact can be ambiguous. Poorly targeted or overly broad subsidies can encourage unproductive practices, such as the overuse of inputs or the maintenance of uncompetitive crops, while simultaneously increasing the tax burden on governments. In some African countries, public spending on agricultural subsidies represents between 1% and 3% of GDP, a significant budgetary burden for economies that are still fragile. This budgetary burden calls for greater traceability and transparency. Studies emphasize the need to publish data on the allocation and use of subsidies in order to limit misappropriation and improve their economic effectiveness.

The effectiveness of aid therefore depends on its design, distribution, and results monitoring. Targeting mechanisms based on the most vulnerable farms and strategic crops improve social and economic outcomes. Gradual reforms, combining productivity incentives, training, and access to finance, can preserve food security while strengthening the competitiveness and resilience of the rural sector. Environmental sustainability must also be integrated. Subsidies should encourage the responsible use of inputs, soil protection, and the management of natural resources to avoid adverse long-term effects.

Countries like Senegal and Mali have begun combining subsidies and technical support programs to improve input use, demonstrating that it is possible to reconcile social objectives and economic efficiency within a controlled budgetary framework. These experiences illustrate a regional trend toward hybrid agricultural policies, where subsidies are linked to market mechanisms, credit, and training, thereby strengthening competitiveness while consolidating food security.