The impact of agricultural research on productivity and poverty in sub-Saharan Africa

While it is widely recognized that agricultural research is a key driver of broad-based technological change in agriculture that benefits the poor in many different ways, little is known about its aggregate impacts on productivity growth and poverty reduction in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Using a pol...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores principales: Alene, Arega D., Coulibaly, O.
Formato: Journal Article
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: Elsevier 2009
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/90227
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author Alene, Arega D.
Coulibaly, O.
author_browse Alene, Arega D.
Coulibaly, O.
author_facet Alene, Arega D.
Coulibaly, O.
author_sort Alene, Arega D.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description While it is widely recognized that agricultural research is a key driver of broad-based technological change in agriculture that benefits the poor in many different ways, little is known about its aggregate impacts on productivity growth and poverty reduction in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Using a polynomial distributed lag structure for agricultural research within a simultaneous system of equations framework, this paper first demonstrates that agricultural research contributes significantly to productivity growth in SSA. Productivity growth is again shown to raise per capita incomes, with income increases finally having significant poverty-reducing effects. With an aggregate rate of return of 55%, the payoffs to agricultural research are also impressive. Agricultural research currently reduces the number of poor by 2.3 million or 0.8% annually. While the actual impacts are not large enough to more than offset the poverty-increasing effects of population growth and environmental degradation, the potential impacts of agricultural research are far greater. Apart from low research investments, SSA faces several constraints outside the research system that hinder realization of potential research benefits. The results show that doubling research investments in SSA would reduce poverty by 9% annually. However, this would not be realized without more efficient extension, credit, and input supply systems.
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spelling CGSpace902272023-12-08T19:36:04Z The impact of agricultural research on productivity and poverty in sub-Saharan Africa Alene, Arega D. Coulibaly, O. agricultural research poverty reduction rate of return sub-saharan africa productivity growth research investments While it is widely recognized that agricultural research is a key driver of broad-based technological change in agriculture that benefits the poor in many different ways, little is known about its aggregate impacts on productivity growth and poverty reduction in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Using a polynomial distributed lag structure for agricultural research within a simultaneous system of equations framework, this paper first demonstrates that agricultural research contributes significantly to productivity growth in SSA. Productivity growth is again shown to raise per capita incomes, with income increases finally having significant poverty-reducing effects. With an aggregate rate of return of 55%, the payoffs to agricultural research are also impressive. Agricultural research currently reduces the number of poor by 2.3 million or 0.8% annually. While the actual impacts are not large enough to more than offset the poverty-increasing effects of population growth and environmental degradation, the potential impacts of agricultural research are far greater. Apart from low research investments, SSA faces several constraints outside the research system that hinder realization of potential research benefits. The results show that doubling research investments in SSA would reduce poverty by 9% annually. However, this would not be realized without more efficient extension, credit, and input supply systems. 2009-04 2018-01-15T10:50:55Z 2018-01-15T10:50:55Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/90227 en Limited Access Elsevier Alene, A.D. & Coulibaly, O. (2009). The impact of agricultural research on productivity and poverty in sub-Saharan Africa. Food Policy, 34(2), 198-209.
spellingShingle agricultural research
poverty reduction
rate of return
sub-saharan africa
productivity growth
research investments
Alene, Arega D.
Coulibaly, O.
The impact of agricultural research on productivity and poverty in sub-Saharan Africa
title The impact of agricultural research on productivity and poverty in sub-Saharan Africa
title_full The impact of agricultural research on productivity and poverty in sub-Saharan Africa
title_fullStr The impact of agricultural research on productivity and poverty in sub-Saharan Africa
title_full_unstemmed The impact of agricultural research on productivity and poverty in sub-Saharan Africa
title_short The impact of agricultural research on productivity and poverty in sub-Saharan Africa
title_sort impact of agricultural research on productivity and poverty in sub saharan africa
topic agricultural research
poverty reduction
rate of return
sub-saharan africa
productivity growth
research investments
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/90227
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