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
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