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The post-independence decline and rise of crop productivity in sub-Saharan Africa: measurement and explanations

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  • Steven A. Block

Abstract

In this paper new estimates are presented for the path of TFP growth in African crop agriculture. With adjustment for the quality of inputs TFP growth rates declined from a rate of 1.5% per annum in the early 1960s to less than 0.5% per annum by the late 1970s. Since then the growth rate has risen steadily so by the early 2000s it was close to the levels achieved at the beginning of the period. These results follow from using a novel semi-parametric econometric approach to estimating TFP. Recent advances in panel econometrics are used to show the heterogeneity of TFP growth rates across countries. Expenditures on agricultural R&D, along with the reform of macroeconomic and sectoral policies have played a substantial role in explaining this pattern of TFP growth.

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  • Steven A. Block, 2014. "The post-independence decline and rise of crop productivity in sub-Saharan Africa: measurement and explanations," Oxford Economic Papers, Oxford University Press, vol. 66(2), pages 373-396.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:oxecpp:v:66:y:2014:i:2:p:373-396.
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1093/oep/gpt010
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    Cited by:

    1. repec:oup:apecpp:v:40:y:2018:i:3:p:421-444. is not listed on IDEAS
    2. Takeshima, Hiroyuki & Nasir, Abdullahi Mohammed, 2017. "The role of the locations of public sector varietal development activities on agricultural productivity: Evidence from northern Nigeria:," NSSP working papers 42, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    3. Fabio Monteforte & Mathan Satchi & Jonathan R. W. Temple, 2021. "Development priorities: the relative benefits of agricultural growth," Oxford Economic Papers, Oxford University Press, vol. 73(3), pages 1122-1152.
    4. Lindikaya W. Myeki & Yonas T. Bahta & Nicolette Matthews, 2022. "Exploring the Growth of Agricultural Productivity in AFRICA: A Färe-Primont Index Approach," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 12(8), pages 1-17, August.
    5. McArthur, John W. & McCord, Gordon C., 2017. "Fertilizing growth: Agricultural inputs and their effects in economic development," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 127(C), pages 133-152.
    6. Markus Eberhardt & Dietrich Vollrath, 2014. "Agricultural Technology and Structural Change," CSAE Working Paper Series 2014-21, Centre for the Study of African Economies, University of Oxford.
    7. Michael Bleaney & Manuela Francisco, 2018. "Is The Phillips Curve Different In Poor Countries?," Bulletin of Economic Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 70(1), pages 17-28, January.
    8. Kayenat Kabir & Uris Lantz C. Baldos & Thomas W. Hertel, 2023. "The new Malthusian challenge in the Sahel: prospects for improving food security in Niger," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 15(2), pages 455-476, April.
    9. Bachewe, Fantu N. & Berhane, Guush & Minten, Bart & Taffesse, Alemayehu S., 2018. "Agricultural Transformation in Africa? Assessing the Evidence in Ethiopia," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 105(C), pages 286-298.
    10. Anderson, J. & Birner, R. & Naseem, A. & Pray, C., 2018. "Promoting the Agricultural Transformation in Africa: How to Create Sufficient Political Will?," 2018 Conference, July 28-August 2, 2018, Vancouver, British Columbia 275988, International Association of Agricultural Economists.

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