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Crop biodiversity, productivity and production risk: Panel data micro‐evidence from Ethiopia

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  • Prosper F. Bangwayo‐Skeete
  • Mintewab Bezabih
  • Precious Zikhali

Abstract

This paper uses data from the Central Highlands of Ethiopia to assess the productivity and production risk impacts of crop diversification. Using count index as a measure of crop biodiversity, results show that increasing crop biodiversity contributes positively to farm level productivity. In addition, the findings suggest that the level of production risk significantly responds to the level of diversity, with the effect highly conditional on the skewness. The major contribution of the paper is that, unlike previous similar studies that tended to focus on intra‐crop diversity, it incorporates the mutual interdependencies across crops within a farm by focusing on inter‐crop diversity. Hence the study adds to the growing empirical literature, particularly in Africa, that tests empirical relationships between productivity, risk and crop diversity. An important policy implication for a diversity rich country such as Ethiopia is that agro‐biodiversity can be used to improve agricultural productivity while promoting in situ conservation.

Suggested Citation

  • Prosper F. Bangwayo‐Skeete & Mintewab Bezabih & Precious Zikhali, 2012. "Crop biodiversity, productivity and production risk: Panel data micro‐evidence from Ethiopia," Natural Resources Forum, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 36(4), pages 263-273, November.
  • Handle: RePEc:wly:natres:v:36:y:2012:i:4:p:263-273
    DOI: 10.1111/1477-8947.12000
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    2. François Bareille & Pierre Dupraz, 2017. "Biodiversity Productive Capacity in Mixed Farms of North-West of France: a Multi-output Primal System," Working Papers SMART 17-03, INRAE UMR SMART.
    3. Otieno, Gloria Atieno & Reynolds, Travis W. & Karasapan, Altinay & Noriega, Isabel Lopez, 2017. "Implications of Seed Policies for On-Farm Agro-Biodiversity in Ethiopia and Uganda," Sustainable Agriculture Research, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 6(4), November.
    4. Dula Etana & Denyse J. R. M. Snelder & Cornelia F. A. van Wesenbeeck & Tjard de Cock Buning, 2021. "The Impact of Adaptation to Climate Change and Variability on the Livelihood of Smallholder Farmers in Central Ethiopia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(12), pages 1-21, June.

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