In this study, we investigate the extent to which infrastructure development affects economic performance in Africa. To pick up the economy-wide effects and possible feedback mechanism from network externalities, we jointly estimate a system of equations that endogenizes the relationship between infrastructure demand and supply with an aggregate output equation, using nonlinear 3SLS-GMM techniques. We find causal evidence of a significant positive link between infrastructure development and economic growth, especially for transport infrastructure. We also find evidence of infrastructure’s increasing returns to growth, with the strongest growth potential materializing after a critical mass of infrastructure has been built and network externalities kick in. One policy implication from our findings is that it is “big-push” and not marginal infrastructure improvements that are required to attain a critical mass, kick start network externalities, and fully unlock infrastructure’s growth potential for the continent. Our results reinforce the case for regional infrastructure integration in Africa.
Proximate investigation revealed the presence of moisture, ash, fibre, lipid, protein and carbohydrate in the healthy and spoilt samples. However, highest values of moisture (65.5± 0.012), ash (3.2± 00.004) and carbohydrate (10.04±0. 002) were recorded for the healthy samples whereas fibre, lipid and protein were higher for the spoilt samples. Mineral composition showed the presence of calcium, phosphorus, potassium, iron, sodium and magnesium. All observed parameters were higher for the healthy samples of P. sativum with an exception for iron which recorded equal concentrations (4.0± 0.001) for both healthy and spoilt samples. Vitamin compositions found in P. sativum were vitamins A, C, thiamine and niacin. They all had higher values for the healthy samples. Furthermore, P. sativum also contained anti-nutrient and phytochemicals such as phytate, oxalate, saponin, tannin, carotenoid, flavonoid, polyphenol and lignin in appreciable concentrations. Nevertheless, three fungal organisms viz: Slerotiumrolfsii, Mucorsppand Rhizopusstoloniferwere isolated and implicated for the spoilage of P. sativum. S. rolfsii had highest incidence (50 ±0.003%) while Mucorspp and R. stolonifer recorded equal incidence (25± 0.023%).
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