Improving Crop Yields in Sub-Saharan Africa - What Does the East African Data Say

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Author :
Publisher : International Monetary Fund
ISBN 13 : 1513546228
Total Pages : 22 pages
Book Rating : 4.5/5 (135 download)

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Book Synopsis Improving Crop Yields in Sub-Saharan Africa - What Does the East African Data Say by : Mr.Alun H. Thomas

Download or read book Improving Crop Yields in Sub-Saharan Africa - What Does the East African Data Say written by Mr.Alun H. Thomas and published by International Monetary Fund. This book was released on 2020-06-12 with total page 22 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Recent micro level data from East Africa is used to benchmark aggregate data and assess the role of agricultural inputs in explaining variation in crop yields on smallholding plots. Fertilizer, improved seeds, protection against erosion and pesticides improve crop yields in Rwanda and Ethiopia, but not Uganda, possibly associated with lack of use there. With all positive yield determinants in place, wheat and maize yields could increase fourfold. The data hints at the negative effect of climate change on yields and the benefits of accompanying measures to mitigate its adverse impact (access to finance and protection against erosion). The adverse effect of crop damage on yields varies between 12/13 percent (Rwanda, Uganda) to 36 percent (Ethiopia). Protection against erosion and investment financing mitigate these effects considerably.

Improved Crop Productivity for Africa’s Drylands

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Author :
Publisher : World Bank Publications
ISBN 13 : 146480897X
Total Pages : 227 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (648 download)

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Book Synopsis Improved Crop Productivity for Africa’s Drylands by : Tom Walker

Download or read book Improved Crop Productivity for Africa’s Drylands written by Tom Walker and published by World Bank Publications. This book was released on 2016-08-17 with total page 227 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: More than 200 million people living in dryland regions of Sub-Saharan Africa make their living from agriculture. Most are exposed to weather shocks, especially drought, that can decimate their incomes, destroy their assets, and plunge them into a poverty trap from which it is diffi cult to emerge. Their lack of resilience in the face of these shocks can be attributed in large part to the poor performance of agriculture on which their livelihood depends. Opportunities exist to improve the fortunes of farming households in the drylands. Improved farming technologies that can increase and stabilize the production of millet, sorghum, maize, and other leading staples are available. Irrigation is technically and economically feasible in some areas and offers additional opportunities to increase and stabilize crop production, especially small-scale irrigation, which tends to be more affordable and easier to manage. Yet many of these opportunities have not been exploited on a large scale, for reasons that include lack of farmer knowledge, nonavailability of inputs, unfavorable price incentives, high levels of production risk, and high cost. Future production growth in drylands agriculture is expected to come mainly from raising yields and increasing the number of crop rotations on land that is already being cultivated (intensifi cation), rather than from bringing new land into cultivation (extensifi cation). Controlling for rainfall, average yields in rainfed cropping systems in Sub-Saharan Africa are still much lower than yields in rainfed cropping systems in other regions, suggesting that there is considerable scope to intensify production in these systems. Furthermore, unlike in other regions, production of low-value cereals under irrigation is generally not economic in Sub-Saharan Africa unless the cereals can be grown in rotation with one or more high-value cash crops. The long-run strategy for drylands agriculture, therefore, must be to promote production of staples in rainfed systems and production of high-value cereals (for example, rice), horticultural cops, and industrial crops in irrigated systems. Based on a detailed review of currently available technologies, Improved Crop Productivity for Africa’s Drylands argues that improving the productivity and stability of agriculture in the drylands has the potential to make a signifi cant contribution to reducing vulnerability and increasing resilience. At the same time, it is important to keep in mind that in an environment characterized by limited agro-climatic potential and subject to repeated shocks, farming on small land holdings may not generate suffi cient income to bring people out of poverty.

Sustainable Intensification to Advance Food Security and Enhance Climate Resilience in Africa

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Author :
Publisher : Springer
ISBN 13 : 3319093606
Total Pages : 657 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (19 download)

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Book Synopsis Sustainable Intensification to Advance Food Security and Enhance Climate Resilience in Africa by : Rattan Lal

Download or read book Sustainable Intensification to Advance Food Security and Enhance Climate Resilience in Africa written by Rattan Lal and published by Springer. This book was released on 2014-10-10 with total page 657 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This 32-chapter volume represents the core of several oral and poster presentations made at the conference. In addition to Introduction and Conclusion sections, the book is thematically divided into 7 sections, namely, 1) Land Use and Farming Systems, 2) Effects of Climate Change on Crop Yield, 3) Soil Nutrient and Water Management for Carbon Sequestration, 4) Rehabilitation of Degraded Lands through Forestry and Agroforestry, 5) Management of Animal Production for Greenhouse Gas Emissions, 6) Smallholder Adaptation to Climate Change, and 7) Economic, Social and Policy Issues. It addresses these themes in the context of sustainable intensification (SI). It implies increasing agronomic production from the existing land while improving/restoring its quality and decreasing the C or environmental footprint. Simply put, SI means producing more from less.

An Updated Look at the Recovery of Agricultural Productivity in Sub-Saharan Africa

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Author :
Publisher : Intl Food Policy Res Inst
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 72 pages
Book Rating : 4./5 ( download)

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Book Synopsis An Updated Look at the Recovery of Agricultural Productivity in Sub-Saharan Africa by : Alejandro Nin Pratt and Bingxin Yu

Download or read book An Updated Look at the Recovery of Agricultural Productivity in Sub-Saharan Africa written by Alejandro Nin Pratt and Bingxin Yu and published by Intl Food Policy Res Inst. This book was released on with total page 72 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Crop Production and Road Connectivity in Sub-Saharan Africa

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Author :
Publisher :
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 41 pages
Book Rating : 4.:/5 (69 download)

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Book Synopsis Crop Production and Road Connectivity in Sub-Saharan Africa by : Paul Anthony Dorosh

Download or read book Crop Production and Road Connectivity in Sub-Saharan Africa written by Paul Anthony Dorosh and published by . This book was released on 2010 with total page 41 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This study examines the relationship between transport infrastructure and agriculture in Sub-Saharan Africa using new data obtained from geographic information systems (GIS). First, the authors analyze the impact of road connectivity on crop production and choice of technology. Second, they explore the impact of investments that reduce road travel times. Finally, they show how this type of analysis can be used to compare cost-benefit ratios for alternative road investments in terms of agricultural output per dollar invested. The authors find that agricultural production is highly correlated with proximity (as measured by travel time) to urban markets. Likewise, adoption of high-productive/high-input technology is negatively correlated with travel time to urban centers. There is therefore substantial scope for increasing agricultural production in Sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in more remote areas. Total crop production relative to potential production is 45 percent for areas within four hours' travel time from a city of 100,000 people. In contrast, it is just 5 percent for areas more than eight hours away. Low population densities and long travel times to urban centers sharply constrain production. Reducing transport costs and travel times to these areas would expand the feasible market size for these regions. Compared to West Africa, East Africa has lower population density, smaller local markets, lower road connectivity, and lower average crop production per unit area. Unlike in East Africa, reducing travel time does not significantly increase the adoption of high-input/high-yield technology in West Africa. This may be because West Africa already has a relatively well-connected road network.

Investigating the impact of climate change on agricultural production in eastern and southern African countries

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Author :
Publisher : Intl Food Policy Res Inst
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 26 pages
Book Rating : 4./5 ( download)

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Book Synopsis Investigating the impact of climate change on agricultural production in eastern and southern African countries by : Belloumi, Mounir

Download or read book Investigating the impact of climate change on agricultural production in eastern and southern African countries written by Belloumi, Mounir and published by Intl Food Policy Res Inst. This book was released on with total page 26 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Climate change has been a significant issue since the end of the 20th century, and impacts a variety of economic sectors, primarily agriculture. The negative impacts of climate change on agricultural production are important because agriculture is closely linked to food security. Although they contribute the least to global pollution, it is estimated that African countries will be the most affected by climate variability. Our paper analyzes the impact of climate change on agricultural production in 11 Eastern and Southern African countries (ESA) during the period from 1961 to 2011 and estimates a panel data model for agricultural production using climate variables (e.g., annual precipitation and annual mean temperature) and economic factors (e.g., livelihood, fertilizer use, machinery, agricultural land, and labor) as explanatory variables.

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

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Author :
Publisher : World Bank Publications
ISBN 13 : 9780821324202
Total Pages : 162 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (242 download)

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Book Synopsis A Strategy to Develop Agriculture in Sub-Saharan Africa and a Focus for the World Bank by : Kevin M. Cleaver

Download or read book A Strategy to Develop Agriculture in Sub-Saharan Africa and a Focus for the World Bank written by Kevin M. Cleaver and published by World Bank Publications. This book was released on 1993-01-01 with total page 162 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: 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.

Crop Production and Road Connectivity in Sub-Saharan Africa

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Author :
Publisher :
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : pages
Book Rating : 4.:/5 (931 download)

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Book Synopsis Crop Production and Road Connectivity in Sub-Saharan Africa by : Paul Dorosh

Download or read book Crop Production and Road Connectivity in Sub-Saharan Africa written by Paul Dorosh and published by . This book was released on 2012 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This study examines the relationship between transport infrastructure and agriculture in Sub-Saharan Africa using new data obtained from geographic information systems (GIS). First, the authors analyze the impact of road connectivity on crop production and choice of technology. Second, they explore the impact of investments that reduce road travel times. Finally, they show how this type of analysis can be used to compare cost-benefit ratios for alternative road investments in terms of agricultural output per dollar invested. The authors find that agricultural production is highly correlated with proximity (as measured by travel time) to urban markets. Likewise, adoption of high-productive/high-input technology is negatively correlated with travel time to urban centers. There is therefore substantial scope for increasing agricultural production in Sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in more remote areas. Total crop production relative to potential production is 45 percent for areas within four hours travel time from a city of 100,000 people. In contrast, it is just 5 percent for areas more than eight hours away. Low population densities and long travel times to urban centers sharply constrain production. Reducing transport costs and travel times to these areas would expand the feasible market size for these regions. Compared to West Africa, East Africa has lower population density, smaller local markets, lower road connectivity, and lower average crop production per unit area. Unlike in East Africa, reducing travel time does not significantly increase the adoption of high-input/high-yield technology in West Africa. This may be because West Africa already has a relatively well-connected road network.

Improving the Measurement and Analysis of African Agricultural Productivity

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Author :
Publisher :
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 68 pages
Book Rating : 4.X/5 (6 download)

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Book Synopsis Improving the Measurement and Analysis of African Agricultural Productivity by : Valerie Auserehl Kelly

Download or read book Improving the Measurement and Analysis of African Agricultural Productivity written by Valerie Auserehl Kelly and published by . This book was released on 1995 with total page 68 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Promoting climate-smart farming in sub-Saharan Africa

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Author :
Publisher : CTA
ISBN 13 : 9290816465
Total Pages : 24 pages
Book Rating : 4.2/5 (98 download)

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Book Synopsis Promoting climate-smart farming in sub-Saharan Africa by : Pye-Smith, Charlie

Download or read book Promoting climate-smart farming in sub-Saharan Africa written by Pye-Smith, Charlie and published by CTA. This book was released on 2018-11-30 with total page 24 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Climate-smart agricultural innovations and policies are helping farmers to increase their resilience in the face of more frequent and adverse weather variabilities. As this booklet shows, projects supported by CTA in Eastern and Southern Africa are assisting pastoralists and smallholder farmers adapt to climate change by adopting a number of important measures. Access to accurate, geo-referenced weather information and agronomic tips is leading to better decision-making. The planting of drought-tolerant varieties of staple crops is increasing yields and incomes. Index-based insurance is helping farmers to survive droughts and other weather shocks. These projects show that climate-smart strategies can raise agricultural production and improve living standards.

Crop Production and Road Connectivity in Sub-Saharan Africa

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Author :
Publisher :
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 46 pages
Book Rating : 4.:/5 (13 download)

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Book Synopsis Crop Production and Road Connectivity in Sub-Saharan Africa by : Paul Dorosh

Download or read book Crop Production and Road Connectivity in Sub-Saharan Africa written by Paul Dorosh and published by . This book was released on 2017 with total page 46 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This study examines the relationship between transport infrastructure and agriculture in Sub-Saharan Africa using new data obtained from geographic information systems (GIS). First, the authors analyze the impact of road connectivity on crop production and choice of technology. Second, they explore the impact of investments that reduce road travel times. Finally, they show how this type of analysis can be used to compare cost-benefit ratios for alternative road investments in terms of agricultural output per dollar invested. The authors find that agricultural production is highly correlated with proximity (as measured by travel time) to urban markets. Likewise, adoption of high-productive/high-input technology is negatively correlated with travel time to urban centers. There is therefore substantial scope for increasing agricultural production in Sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in more remote areas. Total crop production relative to potential production is 45 percent for areas within four hours? travel time from a city of 100,000 people. In contrast, it is just 5 percent for areas more than eight hours away. Low population densities and long travel times to urban centers sharply constrain production. Reducing transport costs and travel times to these areas would expand the feasible market size for these regions. Compared to West Africa, East Africa has lower population density, smaller local markets, lower road connectivity, and lower average crop production per unit area. Unlike in East Africa, reducing travel time does not significantly increase the adoption of high-input/high-yield technology in West Africa. This may be because West Africa already has a relatively well-connected road network.

Nutrition, Sustainable Agriculture and Climate Change in Africa

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Author :
Publisher : Springer Nature
ISBN 13 : 3030478750
Total Pages : 185 pages
Book Rating : 4.0/5 (34 download)

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Book Synopsis Nutrition, Sustainable Agriculture and Climate Change in Africa by : Gbadebo Odularu

Download or read book Nutrition, Sustainable Agriculture and Climate Change in Africa written by Gbadebo Odularu and published by Springer Nature. This book was released on 2020-09-19 with total page 185 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In Sub-Saharan Africa, the rapidly evolving COVID-19, increasing population growth, and exponential expansion in demand for agricultural commodities are putting pressure on available resources, thereby posing immense challenges to the region’s capacity to achieve nutritional security related to United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Although Sub-Saharan Africa boasts vast, fertile and uncultivated arable lands, its capacity to contribute to feeding its current and future population is being seriously undermined by factors such as poor adoption and utilization of innovations and digital tools, climate change impact, environmental degradation, weak political will, limited interest in farming, lack of government support, and more. In spite of these constraints, sustainable agriculture, food security and nutrition security in Sub-Saharan Africa can be achieved by adopting a multi-pronged approach, which includes improved agricultural mechanization, adoption of high yielding crop varieties, use of information technology, public investments in improved technologies, and rural infrastructure funding. This edited volume provides innovative policy tools for enhancing Sub-Saharan Africa's capacity to achieve sustainable agriculture, food security and nutrition security in the digital age and in the face of climate variability. Furthermore, this book presents smart strategies for increased agricultural production, reduced food waste, and enhanced nutritional outcomes by harnessing the latest discoveries in agricultural research, education and advisory services.

Agricultural Adaptation to Climate Change in Africa

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Author :
Publisher : Routledge
ISBN 13 : 1351369512
Total Pages : 438 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (513 download)

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Book Synopsis Agricultural Adaptation to Climate Change in Africa by : Cyndi Spindell Berck

Download or read book Agricultural Adaptation to Climate Change in Africa written by Cyndi Spindell Berck and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2018-03-05 with total page 438 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A changing climate is likely to have a drastic impact on crop yields in Africa. The purpose of this book is to document the effects of climate change on agriculture in Africa and to discuss strategies for adaptation to hotter weather and less predictable rainfall. These strategies include promoting opportunities for farmers to adopt technologies that produce optimal results in terms of crop yield and income under local agro-ecological and socioeconomic conditions. The focus is on sub-Saharan Africa, an area that is already affected by changing patterns of heat and rainfall. Because of the high prevalence of subsistence farming, food insecurity, and extreme poverty in this region, there is a great need for practical adaptation strategies. The book includes empirical research in Ethiopia, Kenya, South Africa, Tanzania, and other Sub-Saharan countries, and the conclusion summarizes policy-relevant findings from the chapters. It is aimed at advanced students, researchers, extension and development practitioners, and officials of government agencies, NGOs, and funding agencies. It also will provide supplementary reading for courses in environment and development and in agricultural economics.

Food Security and Agricultural Development in Sub-Saharan Africa

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Author :
Publisher : Fao
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 136 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 ( download)

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Book Synopsis Food Security and Agricultural Development in Sub-Saharan Africa by : Weldeghaber Kidane

Download or read book Food Security and Agricultural Development in Sub-Saharan Africa written by Weldeghaber Kidane and published by Fao. This book was released on 2006 with total page 136 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "This publication contains the main report of a study championing the case for increased public support to agricultural and food security in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). It advances four main reasons why agriculture in SSA deserves more public support. The first is a moral imperative: SSA governments cannot and should not ignore a sector on which about 70 percent of their population directly depend for their livelihoods if they are serious about their commitment to MDG1. Second, in spite of its generally poor performance, SSA countries do not have any realistic strategic option that they can rely upon for achieving sustainable economic development other than agriculture. Third, there is evidence from a number of SSA countries that appropriate policies and direct public sector investment have combined to trigger agriculture sector-led economic growth. This publication argues for countries to build on their success stories and for others to explore such opportunities, taking into account their specific environmental, economic and social conditions. Fourth, on average, agriculture in SSA has generally performed better than most other sectors, except in countries endowed with mineral resources."--Publisher's description.

The Impact of Price and Exchange Rate Policies on Agriculture in Sub-Saharan Africa

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Author :
Publisher :
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 70 pages
Book Rating : 4.:/5 (318 download)

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Book Synopsis The Impact of Price and Exchange Rate Policies on Agriculture in Sub-Saharan Africa by : Kevin M. Cleaver

Download or read book The Impact of Price and Exchange Rate Policies on Agriculture in Sub-Saharan Africa written by Kevin M. Cleaver and published by . This book was released on 1985 with total page 70 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The purposes of this paper are two. Firstly, a review is undertaken of the available literature on the impact of price and exchange rate policies on agriculture in sub - Saharan Africa. Secondly, an empirical analysis is undertaken using data for 31 sub - Saharan African countries to test several of the common hypotheses concerning this policy impact. The findings tend to confirm the predominate view that in sub - Saharan Africa, price and exchange rate policy has an impact on agricultural production. With the exception of a few countries, the impact has been negative. However, the analysis suggests that these policies are not the most important factors affecting agricultural growth. The literature on this subject tends to suggest a general thrust of policy reform appropriate to all African countries. In this article it is argued that there is no stereotype price policy package suitable for all African countries. The reason is that the depth of the policy problem differs considerably between countries, as do policy objectives and other constraints (land, water, markets, social, political, etc).

Agro-ecological Intensification of Agricultural Systems in the African Highlands

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Author :
Publisher : Routledge
ISBN 13 : 9780203114742
Total Pages : 0 pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (147 download)

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Book Synopsis Agro-ecological Intensification of Agricultural Systems in the African Highlands by : Bernard Vanlauwe

Download or read book Agro-ecological Intensification of Agricultural Systems in the African Highlands written by Bernard Vanlauwe and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2013 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Subject: "With growing population and food security risks, there is an urgent need to increase sustainable agricultural productivity in sub-Saharan Africa. This book addresses the issue of agricultural intensification in the humid highland areas of Africa. Its framework is built on the activities carried out during the last six years in the Great Lakes Region through the Consortium for Improving Agriculture-based Livelihoods in Central Africa, but expanded to include views and contributions from the international scientific community, particularly Europe, North America and Australia. In addition to introductory and synthesis chapters, the book focuses on four themes: system components required for agricultural intensification; the integration of components at the system level; drivers for adoption of technologies towards intensification; and the dissemination of complex knowledge. It provides case studies of improved crop and soil management for staple crops such as cassava and bananas, as well as examples of how the livelihoods of rural people can be improved."--Provided by publisher

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

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Author :
Publisher :
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 0 pages
Book Rating : 4.:/5 (137 download)

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Book Synopsis Resources, Policies, and Agricultural Productivity in Sub-Saharan Africa by : Keith Fuglie

Download or read book Resources, Policies, and Agricultural Productivity in Sub-Saharan Africa written by Keith Fuglie and published by . This book was released on 2015 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: 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.