The determinants of agricultural productivity in sub-Saharan African countries

Abstract

Purpose : In this paper, we analysed the determinants of agricultural productivity in sub-Saharan African countries.

Design/methodology/approach : The generalized method of moments (GMM) was used for data analysis. The study focused on 27 countries in sub-Saharan Africa and covers the period from 2001 to 2018.

Findings : The results show that the level of current productivity has a positive and signif­icant effect on the level of future productivity in the countries of the sub-Saharan Africa. This states that if these countries want to achieve substantial productivity gains in future periods, they must begin to improve their current productivity levels. The results also show that credit granted to the agricultural sector and infrastructure improve agricultural productivity. Sub-Saharan African countries should increase investments in infrastructure and strengthen financing mechanisms for the agricultural sector, particularly through the development of agricultural input credits for small producers.

Originality/value : In order to analyse the determinants of agricultural productivity in sub-Saharan African countries, we integrate the lagged value of agricultural productivity as an explanatory variable. The existence of such a relationship explains why agricultural productivity has hardly changed in the countries of sub-Saharan Africa on the one hand and on the other hand the high proportion of the workforce over time in the agricultural sector of these countries unlike developed countries.

Keywords: agricultural productivity, agricultural credit, infrastructure.

JEL classification : O13.

DOI : https://doi.org/10.18559/RIELF.2023.2.4