Food Security and Agricultural Development in Sub-Saharan Africa

Food Security and Agricultural Development in Sub-Saharan Africa
Author: Weldeghaber Kidane
Publisher: Fao
Total Pages: 136
Release: 2006
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN:

"This publication contains the main report of a study championing the case for increased public support to agricultural and food security in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). It advances four main reasons why agriculture in SSA deserves more public support. The first is a moral imperative: SSA governments cannot and should not ignore a sector on which about 70 percent of their population directly depend for their livelihoods if they are serious about their commitment to MDG1. Second, in spite of its generally poor performance, SSA countries do not have any realistic strategic option that they can rely upon for achieving sustainable economic development other than agriculture. Third, there is evidence from a number of SSA countries that appropriate policies and direct public sector investment have combined to trigger agriculture sector-led economic growth. This publication argues for countries to build on their success stories and for others to explore such opportunities, taking into account their specific environmental, economic and social conditions. Fourth, on average, agriculture in SSA has generally performed better than most other sectors, except in countries endowed with mineral resources."--Publisher's description.

The Relationship Between Financial Inclusion and Agricultural Development in Southern Africa Development Community (SADC)

The Relationship Between Financial Inclusion and Agricultural Development in Southern Africa Development Community (SADC)
Author: Nomfundo Noncedo Langwenya
Publisher:
Total Pages:
Release: 2018
Genre:
ISBN:

An inclusive financial system has been widely recognized by most policy makers around the world and is becoming a priority in policy making globally. An inclusive financial system is one that creates economic opportunities along with ensuring equal access to them. Agriculture, on the other hand, continues to be renowned as an engine for growth in many poor economies and thus the importance of financial inclusion for agricultural development cannot be ignored. This research work sought to examine the relationship between financial inclusion and agricultural development in Southern African Development Community (SADC). The main objective of the study was to establish the relationship between financial inclusion and agricultural development in the SADC region. The study determined the level of financial inclusion in the SADC region by calculating the index of financial inclusion. The index gathers information from the World Bank G20 financial inclusion indicators using methodological inputs from the research works of Sarma (2008). An agricultural development index was also calculated to determine the level of agricultural development in the SADC region using secondary data from the African Development Bank, an open Africa database. To determine the relationship between financial inclusion and agricultural development, secondary data were extracted from the African Development Bank s open data for Africa database. These data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, correlation and regression analysis. Excel software was used to transform the variables into a format suitable for analysis, after which STATA version 14 was used to provide the basis of analysis and the findings of the study. For the basis of analysis and because of the unavailability of data on agricultural development measured as a single number, the Agricultural Production Index (API) was used as a proxy for agricultural development. A period of ten years was covered, from 2005 to 2014, for all 15 SADC countries and the panel fixed effects regression model was confirmed by the Hausman test as appropriate for the study. The regression analysis established that the usage of financial services (amount of bank loans as a proportion of total deposits) has a statistically significant relationship with agricultural development. The number of bank branches (per 1000 km2) and ATMs (per 100 000 people) have a positive relationship with agricultural development and thus an increase in access to financial services is associated with an increase in agricultural development in the SADC region. Therefore, this study confirmed the hypothesis that agricultural development and financial inclusion are positively related. Hence, high financial inclusion is associated with high agricultural development in the SADC region.

Exploring strategic priorities for regional agricultural research and development investments in southern Africa

Exploring strategic priorities for regional agricultural research and development investments in southern Africa
Author: Johnson, Michael E.
Publisher: Intl Food Policy Res Inst
Total Pages: 140
Release:
Genre: Social Science
ISBN:

An in-depth quantitative analysis is undertaken in this paper to assist the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Secretariat, member countries, and development partners in setting future regional investment priorities for agricultural research and development in the SADC region. A primary goal of this work was to identify a range of agricultural research priorities for achieving sector productivity and overall economic growth in southern Africa, at both the country and regional levels. This is accomplished by adopting an integrated modeling framework that combines a disaggregated spatial analytical model with an economywide multimarket model developed specifically for the region.

Transforming Agriculture in Southern Africa

Transforming Agriculture in Southern Africa
Author: Richard A. Sikora
Publisher: Routledge
Total Pages: 296
Release: 2019-11-27
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 0429686633

This book provides a synthesis of the key issues and challenges facing agriculture and food production in Southern Africa. Southern Africa is facing numerous challenges from diverse issues such as agricultural transformations, growing populations, urbanization and climate change. These challenges place great pressure on food security, agriculture, water availability and other natural resources, as well as impacting biodiversity. Drawing on case studies from Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe, the chapters in this book consider these challenges from an interdisciplinary perspective, covering key areas in constraints to production, the most important building blocks of good farming practices, and established and emerging technologies. This book will be a valuable support for informing new policies and processes aimed at improving food production and security and developing sustainable agriculture in Southern Africa. This informative volume will be key reading for those interested in agricultural science, African studies, rural studies, development studies and sustainability. It will also be a valuable resource for policymakers, governmental and nongovernmental organizations, and agricultural practitioners. This title has been made available as Open Access under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives (CCBY-NC-ND) license and can be accessed here: https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/e/9780429401701