The impact of domestic and foreign R&amp;D on agricultural productivity in sub-Saharan Africa

Adetutu, Morakinyo O.; Ajayi, Victor Oluwatosin

doi:10.1016/j.worlddev.2019.104690

Cited by 69 publications

(36 citation statements)

References 81 publications

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“…This study also answers a key policy question by providing insights into the extent to which agricultural productivity contributes to economic growth in Africa. This study differs from that of Houmy et al (2013) and Adetutu and Ajayi (2020) who both assessed agricultural mechanization in SSA, but only focused on the scientific process of agricultural mechanization and the role of research and development expenditures respectively. To achieve the set objective, this article employed the system‐GMM methodology in analyzing a panel of 25 SSA countries over 17 years.…”

Section: Conclusion and Policy Recommendationmentioning

confidence: 68%

Pathway to achieving sustainable food security in Sub‐Saharan Africa: The role of agricultural mechanization

2020

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According to the World Health Organization (2020), many parts of the world have demonstrated potentials for acute hunger and famine. Many countries in Sub‐Saharan Africa (SSA) actively feature in this category due to geopolitical crises and other humanitarian challenges. Despite efforts by SSA governments, agricultural productivity continues to be inadequate in meeting nutritional needs across Africa. Thus, in the presence of economic expansion, vast land, and labor resources, this study investigates the role of mechanization as an important factor for increased agricultural productivity in SSA. Data on 25 SSA countries over 17 years are used. Empirical results from System Generalized Method of Moments show that among other variables, mechanization is a significant factor influencing agricultural productivity. Consequently, in light of the bid for higher agricultural productivity, government investment in mechanization becomes a priority. Also, apart from the fact that many African countries are at the point where more land must be brought under development to satisfy expanded market needs, larger investments in mechanization appear imperative.

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Section: Conclusion and Policy Recommendationmentioning

confidence: 68%

Pathway to achieving sustainable food security in Sub‐Saharan Africa: The role of agricultural mechanization

2020

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“…TFP explains how efficiently inputs are utilized in production under the influence of technology, policy, trade, and other various factors [16]. TFP can be decomposed into the different shares explained by each component of productivity growth, which helps to identify the different sources of productivity growth, such as technical change, technical efficiency change, and scale efficiency change [17,18].…”

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

Agricultural Productivity Growth and Its Determinants in South and Southeast Asian Countries

et al. 2020

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Improving agricultural productivity is a priority concern in promoting the sustainable development of agriculture in developing countries. In this study, we first apply stochastic frontier analysis (SFA) to analyze the growth of agricultural total factor productivity (TFP) and its three components (technical change—TC, technical efficiency change—TEC and scale change—SC) in 15 south and southeast Asian countries covering the period 2002 to 2016. Then, the determinants of agricultural TFP growth are identified using dynamic panel data models. The results reveal that the south and southeast Asian countries witnessed an overall decline in agricultural productivity during the sample period, thereby creating concerns over sustaining future agricultural growth. Technical progress was the major source of TFP growth, but its contribution has slowed in recent years. On the other hand, declining scale change and technical efficiency change resulted in the deterioration of productivity over time. Variable levels of productivity performances were observed for individual countries, mainly driven by technological progress. Overall, southeast Asia achieved a more stable and sustained agricultural growth as compared to south Asia. Among the determinants, human capital, level of urbanization, and development flow to agriculture positively influenced agricultural TFP growth, while the level of economic development and agricultural import were negatively associated with TFP growth. Policy recommendations include the suggestions that south and southeast Asian countries should increase investment in human capital, focus on technological innovation and make use of financial assistance and development flow to agriculture to increase and sustain agricultural productivity. In addition, frontier countries of the two regions (e.g., India and Indonesia) should take the lead on regional agricultural development ventures by enhancing cooperation with neighboring countries on technological innovations, and countries facing diseconomies of scale (i.e., Afghanistan and Iran) should consider the rational reallocation of agricultural inputs.

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“…According to Alston and Pardey (2014) the slowing growth in agricultural research spending by high-income countries has contributed to a slowdown in their agricultural productivity growth. Moreover, agricultural R&D activity in advanced economies in the past has generated positive spillovers in other countries, including economically comparable as well less-developed economies ( Adetutu and Ajayi, 2020 ; Schiff and Wang, 2010 ; Schimmelpfennig and Thirtle, 1999 ). Such international research spillovers have in the past contributed to global agricultural productivity growth ( Alston, 2002 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Thus, it is imperative that Sub-Saharan Africa increase its public agricultural R&D spending and also ensure that it is stable. Since agricultural R&D in this region is largely public-funded, there is also room for complementing existing government spending with private sector agricultural R&D investment ( Adetutu and Ajayi, 2020 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In the last 50–100 years, dramatic changes in agricultural productivity and production have taken place, driven in large part by investments in public and private agricultural research ( Alston and Pardey, 2014 ). These increases in agricultural productivity have by and large occurred across the globe, encompassing high-income ( Andersen and Song, 2013 ; Khan et al, 2017 ; Thirtle et al, 2008 ) as well as middle- and low-income countries ( Adetutu and Ajayi, 2020 ; Fan et al, 2000 ; Suphannachart and Warr, 2011 ), and involving their respective public sector agricultural R&D organizations. Today, nearly all countries in some form or another have national agricultural research institutes ( Fuglie, 2018 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Global volatility of public agricultural R&D expenditure

Rawat

2020

Advances in Food Security and Sustainability

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The impact of domestic and foreign R&D on agricultural productivity in sub-Saharan Africa

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Cited by 69 publications

References 81 publications

Pathway to achieving sustainable food security in Sub‐Saharan Africa: The role of agricultural mechanization

Pathway to achieving sustainable food security in Sub‐Saharan Africa: The role of agricultural mechanization

Agricultural Productivity Growth and Its Determinants in South and Southeast Asian Countries

Global volatility of public agricultural R&D expenditure

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