Show simple item record

The impact of agricultural research on productivity and poverty in subSaharan Africa

dc.contributor.authorAlene, Arega D.
dc.contributor.authorCoulibaly, O.
dc.date.accessioned2019-12-04T11:13:53Z
dc.date.available2019-12-04T11:13:53Z
dc.date.issued2009
dc.identifier.citationAlene, A.D. & Coulibaly, O. (2009). The impact of agricultural research on productivity and poverty in sub-Saharan Africa. Food Policy, 34(2), 198-209.
dc.identifier.issn0306-9192
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12478/2529
dc.description.abstractWhile 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.
dc.format.extent198-209
dc.language.isoen
dc.subjectAgricultural Research
dc.subjectPoverty Reduction
dc.subjectRate Of Return
dc.subjectSub-Saharan Africa
dc.subjectProductivity Growth
dc.subjectAgricultural Research
dc.subjectResearch Investments
dc.titleThe impact of agricultural research on productivity and poverty in subSaharan Africa
dc.typeJournal Article
dc.description.versionPeer Review
cg.contributor.affiliationInternational Institute of Tropical Agriculture
cg.coverage.regionAfrica
cg.coverage.regionSouthern Africa
cg.coverage.regionWest Africa
cg.coverage.countryMalawi
cg.coverage.countryBenin
cg.isijournalISI Journal
cg.authorship.typesCGIAR single centre
cg.iitasubjectImpact Assessment
cg.iitasubjectLivelihoods
cg.iitasubjectFood Security
cg.iitasubjectPlant Production
cg.iitasubjectResearch Method
cg.iitasubjectSocioeconomy
cg.iitasubjectNutrition
cg.iitasubjectHandling, Transport, Storage And Protection Of Agricultural Products
cg.iitasubjectFarm Management
cg.iitasubjectAgribusiness
cg.journalFood Policy
cg.howpublishedFormally Published
cg.accessibilitystatusLimited Access
local.dspaceid93280
cg.identifier.doihttps://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.foodpol.2008.10.014


Files in this item

FilesSizeFormatView

There are no files associated with this item.

This item appears in the following Collection(s)

Show simple item record