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Agricultural Growth in China and Sub-Saharan African Countries

Author

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  • Mahmood H. Khan

    (Simon Fraser University, Canada.)

  • Mohsin S. Khan

    (International Monetary Fund, Washington, D. C.)

Abstract

Agriculture remains a dominant sector in the economies of most African and several Asian countries. However, the poor performance of agriculture in Africa stands in sharp contrast to the robust agricultural growth in many Asian countries.2 In this regard, the experience of China is perhaps as impressive as it is relevant to many countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. A general observation is that the productivity of land and labour has to rise through intensive agriculture, given the limited area of arable land (in China and Africa) and the high rates of growth of population (as in Africa). In many African countries, labour productivity has fallen and land productivity has not increased significantly. In China, productivities of both land and labour have increased significantly since at least the early 1980s. Agricultural output can increase in three ways: (i) get more from the same quantities of inputs through better utilisation of the existing capacity; (ii) use increased quantities of inputs; and (iii) use new techniques to raise the productivity of each input or raise the total product curve. All of these may require changes in tenurial arrangements, levels of investment in infrastructure and support services, and policies that affect the prices of outputs and inputs. A close examination of factors underlying the contrasting experiences in China and African countries reveals important differences in the institutional and policy environments affecting the individual behaviour with regard to the adoption and use of new (profitable) technologies to raise the land and labour productivities.

Suggested Citation

  • Mahmood H. Khan & Mohsin S. Khan, 1995. "Agricultural Growth in China and Sub-Saharan African Countries," The Pakistan Development Review, Pakistan Institute of Development Economics, vol. 34(4), pages 429-456.
  • Handle: RePEc:pid:journl:v:34:y:1995:i:4:p:429-456
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    File URL: http://www.pide.org.pk/pdf/PDR/1995/Volume4/429-456.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Vyas, Vijay S. & Casley, Dennis, 1988. "Stimulating agricultural growth and rural development in sub-Saharan Africa," Policy Research Working Paper Series 15, The World Bank.
    3. Smith, Joyotee & Barau, Anthony D & Goldman, Abraham & Mareck, James H, 1994. "The Role of Technology in Agricultural Intensification: The Evolution of Maize Production in the Northern Guinea Savanna of Nigeria," Economic Development and Cultural Change, University of Chicago Press, vol. 42(3), pages 537-554, April.
    4. Jaeger, W.K., 1992. "The Effects of Economic Policies on African Agriculture," World Bank - Discussion Papers 147, World Bank.
    5. World Bank, 1994. "World Development Report 1994," World Bank Publications - Books, The World Bank Group, number 5977.
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    7. Wen, Guanzhong James, 1993. "Total Factor Productivity Change in China's Farming Sector: 1952-1989," Economic Development and Cultural Change, University of Chicago Press, vol. 42(1), pages 1-41, October.
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    Cited by:

    1. Fasano-Filho, Ugo, 1996. "Economic policy making in sub-Saharan Africa and IMF involvement," The Quarterly Review of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 36(Supplemen), pages 115-151.

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