DOC PREVIEW
structural_transformation_legon

This preview shows page 1-2-3-4-5-6 out of 17 pages.

Save
View full document
View full document
Premium Document
Do you want full access? Go Premium and unlock all 17 pages.
Access to all documents
Download any document
Ad free experience
View full document
Premium Document
Do you want full access? Go Premium and unlock all 17 pages.
Access to all documents
Download any document
Ad free experience
View full document
Premium Document
Do you want full access? Go Premium and unlock all 17 pages.
Access to all documents
Download any document
Ad free experience
View full document
Premium Document
Do you want full access? Go Premium and unlock all 17 pages.
Access to all documents
Download any document
Ad free experience
View full document
Premium Document
Do you want full access? Go Premium and unlock all 17 pages.
Access to all documents
Download any document
Ad free experience
View full document
Premium Document
Do you want full access? Go Premium and unlock all 17 pages.
Access to all documents
Download any document
Ad free experience
Premium Document
Do you want full access? Go Premium and unlock all 17 pages.
Access to all documents
Download any document
Ad free experience

Unformatted text preview:

Structural Challenges in Fostering Green Revolution(s) in Sub-Saharan AfricaPresentation to University of Ghana-Legon22 March 2007John M. Staatz ([email protected])Dept. of Agricultural EconomicsMichigan State UniversityFrequent Calls to “Bring a Green Revolution to Africa” NEPAD/CAADP Abuja Food Security Summit Gates/Rockefeller Foundation  InterAcademy Council World Bank (WDR 2008) View that more dynamic agriculture needs to be a key element in poverty reduction strategiesQuestions Is the Asian GR analogy appropriate for SSA? What are the most effective strategies to help the large number of small farmers who have little prospect of “farming their way out of poverty”? How to build upon SSA’s past and present agricultural revolutions?Agricultural growth & poverty alleviation Strong empirical evidence that agricultural growth in low-income economies cancontribute more strongly to poverty alleviation than growth in other sectors (Byerlee et al., ….) But the link is not automatic. It depends on the type and pattern of growth.Pathways between agricultural growth and poverty alleviation Direct participation As family farmers As farm laborers Indirect (linkage) effects Backward linkages Forward linkages Investment and fiscal linkages Consumption Linkages Wage-good effectsPathways between agricultural growth and poverty alleviation Both direct and indirect effects depend both on technology andinstitutions, especially markets Experience of Green Revolution in Asia was that the indirect effects (especially the consumption linkage and wage-good effects) had bigger antipoverty effects than the direct effects.Basic Asian-Style Green Revolution Model Productivity increase in staple cropÆ Income increase of adopters Some increase in labor demand for staples production Increased labor demand in forward and backward linked industries Big increase in employment in labor-intensive goods demanded by richer staple food producers (and those in linked industries)—often horticulture and animal products (e.g., dairy) Lower staple food prices hold down wage rates, allowing expansion of non-agricultural employment Model only works if….. There is a cost-reducing technological package Initial boost in agricultural incomes and/or in farm labor incomes is broad-based. There are few blockages to expansion of upstream and downstream activities These farmers re-spend their incomes on labor-intensive local products The supply of these local products is elastic Markets are competitive enough for increased productivity throughout the chain to be passed along to consumers, many of whom are farmers. Labor markets, land markets and migration opportunities work well enough to help people transfer out of agricultureIs the Asian model appropriate for Subsaharan Africa? Structural differences between Asia and SSA and changes in the economic and social environment since the 1960s imply that Africa’s green revolution(s) will look very different from those in Asia, suggesting the need for some different strategies.A few key structural differences Size & diversity, incl. gender Îdiversity of farming systems Soils & rainfallÎTechnological challenges & risk Spatial issues Landlocked Localization of poverty High transport costsÎ Marketing costs as important as production costs World of semi-tradables Population density & infrastructure density Marketing costs  Production/marketing risks Investment challengesA few key structural differences 48 separate states, many small Importance of regional trade & transaction costs Scale & spillovers Human capital investment, incl. impact of HIV/AIDS Late comer to rapid economic growth Leap-frogging? Different price & competitive environmentChanging context Globalization New rules Increased tradability (new markets & competitors)  New actors/investors (esp. Asian) Flows of capital & technologyChanging contextTechnologies Biological & who generates it Information Supply chains Internationally Nationally/regionallyChanging contextEnvironment/Demographics Increasing economic scarcity energy & water Climate change Risk New marketsInitial conclusion GR strategies for SSA must take account of and build upon SSA’s Agro-ecological and economic diversity Different macro-economic context than that which existed in Asia in the 1960s and 1970s.Diversity of smallholders A minority of smallholders will be able to “farm their way out of poverty” Size of farm Asset base Market involvement Therefore, the importance of the indirectimpacts of ag growth become extremely important for poverty reduction as well as complementary investments to help the most resource-constrained move out of poverty agricultureFarm size distribution: Small farm sectorhectares01234567Ken Eth Rwa Moz Zambottom 25%2nd 3rdtop 25%Smallholder market involvement: staples In Ethiopia, Kenya, Mali, Mozambique, Rwanda, Senegal, Somalia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe fewer than half of the smallholders are net sellers of staples; the modal figure is closer to one-third.  Net buyers varied between 33 and 72%; modal figure around 50%. Data from household surveys in Ghana, Nigeria, Malawi and Madagascar found similar patterns, with the amount of land owned being the strongest correlate of net sales position.Implications for an ag strategy Different technological needs for different types of smallholders  Commodity foci: Staples (for wage-good effect) High-value products, including for domestic and regional markets Some scope for traditional exportsChallenges to making GR linkages work Direct participation As family farmers – broadening the base As farm laborers—mechanization policy; crop mix Indirect (linkage) effects Backward linkages  Forward linkages  Fiscal and investment linkages – local governance Consumption Linkages – consumption patterns; competing imports Wage-good effects – Trade as a double-edged sword.Implications for a strategy Need to focus on making markets work for the poor Product markets Factor markets (labor, land, inputs, capital) Locally produced consumer goods Knowledge Complementary infrastructure investment (including rural electrification)Making rural institutions workbetter Farmer and


structural_transformation_legon

Download structural_transformation_legon
Our administrator received your request to download this document. We will send you the file to your email shortly.
Loading Unlocking...
Login

Join to view structural_transformation_legon and access 3M+ class-specific study document.

or
We will never post anything without your permission.
Don't have an account?
Sign Up

Join to view structural_transformation_legon 2 2 and access 3M+ class-specific study document.

or

By creating an account you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms Of Use

Already a member?