Resources, Policies, and Agricultural Productivity in Sub-Saharan Africa

Resources, Policies, and Agricultural Productivity in Sub-Saharan Africa
Author: Keith Fuglie
Publisher:
Total Pages: 0
Release: 2015
Genre:
ISBN:

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Agricultural productivity in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) remains low and is falling farther behind other regions of the world. Although agricultural output growth in the region has accelerated since the 1990s, this has been primarily due to resource expansion rather than to higher productivity. Yet there is evidence that agricultural productivity growth has improved in some countries. Enhanced productivity is correlated with investments in agricultural research, wider adoption of new technologies, and policy reforms that have strengthened economic incentives to farmers. Many of the technological improvements have come from the Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) centers. Benefits from the CGIAR in SSA are estimated to be over $6 for each $1 invested. Returns to national agricultural research are also robust, at least for large countries. But overall investment in agricultural research has remained low, and increases in research capacity will likely be necessary to significantly accelerate agricultural growth in the region. Other constraints to agricultural productivity include government policies that reduce earnings in the farm sector, the spread of the HIV/AIDS virus, and armed conflict within and between countries.

Facing Up to Food Crisis in Sub-Saharan Africa

Facing Up to Food Crisis in Sub-Saharan Africa
Author: International Association of Research Scholars and Fellows. Symposium
Publisher: IITA
Total Pages: 93
Release: 2007
Genre: Africa, Sub-Saharan
ISBN: 978131298X

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Reaping Richer Returns

Reaping Richer Returns
Author: Aparajita Goyal
Publisher: World Bank Publications
Total Pages: 361
Release: 2017-03-10
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 1464809402

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Enhancing the productivity of agriculture is vital for Sub-Saharan Africa's economic future and is one of the most important tools to end extreme poverty and boost shared prosperity in the region. How governments elect to spend public resources has significant development impact in this regard. Choosing to catalyze a shift toward more effective, efficient, and climate-resilient public spending in agriculture can accelerate change and unleash growth. Not only does agricultural public spending in Sub-Saharan Africa lag behind other developing regions but its impact is vitiated by subsidy programs and transfers that tend to benefit elites to the detriment of poor people and the agricultural sector itself. Shortcomings in the budgeting processes also reduce spending effectiveness. In light of this scenario, addressing the quality of public spending and the efficiency of resource use becomes even more important than addressing only the level of spending. Improvements in the policy environment, better institutions, and investments in rural public goods positively affect agricultural productivity. These, combined with smarter use of public funds, have helped lay the foundations for agricultural productivity growth around the world, resulting in a wealth of important lessons from which African policy makers and development practitioners can draw. 'Reaping Richer Returns: Public Spending Priorities for African Agriculture Productivity Growth' will be of particular interest to policy makers, development practitioners, and academics. The rigorous analysis presented in this book provides options for reform with a view to boosting the productivity of African agriculture and eventually increasing development impact.

Looking Ahead

Looking Ahead
Author: Mark W. Rosegrant
Publisher: Intl Food Policy Res Inst
Total Pages: 75
Release: 2005-08-10
Genre: Social Science
ISBN: 0896296555

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References p. 52-59.

A Strategy to Develop Agriculture in Sub-Saharan Africa and a Focus for the World Bank

A Strategy to Develop Agriculture in Sub-Saharan Africa and a Focus for the World Bank
Author: Kevin M. Cleaver
Publisher: World Bank Publications
Total Pages: 162
Release: 1993-01-01
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 9780821324202

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For 25 years, population growth has outpaced increases in agricultural production in Sub-Saharan Africa. The lack of food and the degradation of agricultural land have forced policymakers to reassess agricultural strategies for the region. This paper provides such a reassessment by identifying policies and investments that have worked and those that have not. The author sets out the common elements required for agricultural and rural development throughout the region. The strategy presented in this paper comprises elements from several development sectors, including transport, water supply, education, finance, and the environment. The author makes five broad recommendations to promote Region: adoption of policies to promote private sector farming and agricultural marketing, processing, and credit development and distribution of new technologies inclusion of farmers in decisions affecting their livelihood development of infrastructure and social programs in support of agriculture improved management of natural resources Projections of the likely effects of the proposed policies and investments are included. Tables throughout the text present statistics on agricultural growth rates, commodity prices, and deforestation in the region. An annex contains more general tables, with information on population growth and fertility rates, land use, agricultural exports, and droughts. The strategies suggested in this paper will be of interest to policymakers, academics, and to development practitioners involved in African agriculture.