Agricultural Production and Technology

Improving the Effectiveness, Efficiency and Sustainability of Fertilizer Use in Sub-Saharan Africa

Authors
Saa Dittoh, Olubunmi Abayomi Omotosho, Adama Belemvire, Margaret Akurib, Khondoker Tanveer Haider
Publisher
Global Development Network
Publication date
Location
http://digital.agripolicyoutreach.org/54544/IMPROVING-THE-EFFECTVENESS-EFFICIENCY-AND-SUSTAINABILTY-OF-FERTILIZER-USE-IN-SUB-SAHARAN-AFRICA/Research-Paper
Source / Citation
Dittoh, S., O. A. Omotosho, A. Belemvire, M. Akurib, and K. T. Haider, "Improving the Effectiveness, Efficiency and Sustainability of Fertilizer Use in Sub-Saharan Africa", GDN Policy Research Paper 3, June 2012.
Fertilizer had been part of the technological trinity (improved seed, irrigation, and fertilizer) responsible for bringing about the Green Revolution of Latin America and Asia. Its adequate and efficient use should, therefore, be a main ingredient in achieving food security in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). At present, average fertilizer use intensity in SSA is the lowest compared to anywhere in the world and the region needs to take affirmative action to improve the situation.

Agricultural mechanization in Ghana: Is specialization in agricultural mechanization a viable business model?

Authors
Nazaire Houssou, Xinshen Diao, Frances Cossar, Shashidhara Kolavalli, Kipo Jimah, and Patrick Ohene Aboagye
Publisher
International Food Policy Research Institute
Publication date
Location
https://www.ifpri.org/publication/agricultural-mechanization-ghana
Source / Citation
Houssou, N., X. Diao, F. Cossar, S. Kolavalli, K. Jimah, and P. O. Aboagye. "Agricultural mechanization in Ghana: Is specialization in agricultural mechanization a viable business model?" IFPRI, GSSP Working Paper No. 30, January 2013.
Country

The Government of Ghana (GoG) since 2007 has been providing subsidized agricultural machines to individual farmers and private enterprises established as specialized Agricultural Mechanization Services Enterprise Centers (AMSECs) to offer tractor-hire services to small-scale farmers across the country. Current demand in the country is primarily focused on land preparation services, especially plowing. This paper assesses whether AMSEC enterprises are a viable business model attractive to private investors.

Gender differences in access to extension services and agricultural productivity

Authors
Catherine Ragasa, Guush Berhane, Fanaye Tadesse, and Alemayehu Seyoum Taffesse
Publisher
International Food Policy Research Institute and Ethiopian Development Research Institute
Publication date
Location
https://www.ifpri.org/publication/gender-differences-access-extension-services-and-agricultural-productivity
Source / Citation
Ragasa, C., G. Berhane, F. Tadesse, and A. S. Taffesse. "Gender Differences in Access to Extension Services and Agricultural Productivity," IFPRI & EDRI, ESSP Working Paper No. 49, December 2012.
Country

This paper contributes new empirical evidence and nuanced analysis on the gender difference in access to extension services and how this translates to observed differences in technology adoption and agricultural productivity. We employ a cross-sectional instrumental-variable regression method using a regionally-representative dataset of more than 7,500 households and 32,000 plots in four major regions in Ethiopia that was collected during the 2010 main season.

Impact of off-farm income on agricultural technology adoption intensity and productivity: Evidence from rural maize farmers in Uganda

Authors
Gracious M. Dirro
Publisher
International Food Policy Research Institute/ Uganda Strategy Support Program
Publication date
Location
https://www.ifpri.org/publication/impact-farm-income-agricultural-technology-adoption-intensity-and-productivity
Source / Citation
Dirro, G.M. "Impact of off-farm income on agricultural technology adoption intensity and productivity: Evidence from rural maize farmers in Uganda," IFPRI/USSP Working Paper No. 11, January 2013.
Country

This study analyzed the impact of off-farm earnings on the intensity of adoption of improved maize varieties and the productivity of maize farming in Uganda in the years 2005/06 and 2009/10. Summary statistics show significantly higher adoption intensity and expenditure on purchased inputs among households with off-farm income relative to their counterparts without off-farm income.

Improved performance of agriculture in Africa South of the Sahara

Authors
Alejandro Nin-Pratt, Michael Johnson, Bingxin Yu
Publisher
International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI)
Publication date
Location
https://www.ifpri.org/publication/improved-performance-agriculture-africa-south-sahara-taking-or-bouncing-back-taking-or-bouncing-back-taking-or-bouncing-back-taking-or-bouncing-back

The improved performance of the agricultural sector in Africa south of the Sahara during the most recent decade (2000–2010) has raised questions about the drivers behind the growth. Skeptics argue that rising commodity prices, as world markets experience a commodity boom, are the main cause of the agricultural growth. Others point to improvements in the policy environment and increased investments in agriculture at a time when African governments and donors have been rallying to increase their support to agriculture.

Does water harvesting induce fertilizer use among smallholders? Evidence from Ethiopia

Authors
Mekonnen B. Wakeyo and Cornelis Gardebroek
Publisher
Agricultural Systems
Publication date
Location
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0308521X1200128X
Source / Citation
Mekonnen B. Wakeyo, Cornelis Gardebroek "Does water harvesting induce fertilizer use among smallholders? Evidence from Ethiopia" Agricultural Systems, Volume 114, January 2013, Pages 54-63. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.agsy.2012.08.005
Country

Rainfall shortage is a major production risk for smallholder farmers. Due to rainfall shortage, smallholders limit the use of modern inputs such as fertilizer and improved seeds. This study investigates if water harvesting technologies (WHTs) induce fertilizer use and whether there is joint adoption of fertilizer and water harvesting technologies. Using panel data collected from Ethiopian farmers in two regions in 2005 and 2010, a random effects probit model and a bivariate probit model are estimated to investigate these two issues.

Calibration and evaluation of a semi-distributed watershed model of Sub-Saharan Africa using GRACE data

Authors
H. Xie, L. Longuevergne, C. Ringler1, and B. R. Scanlon
Publisher
Hydrology and Earth System Sciences
Publication date
Location
http://www.hydrol-earth-syst-sci.net/16/3083/2012/hess-16-3083-2012.pdf
Source / Citation
Xie, H., Longuevergne, L., Ringler, C., and Scanlon, B. R.: Calibration and evaluation of a semi-distributed watershed model of Sub-Saharan Africa using GRACE data, Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 16, 3083-3099, doi:10.5194/hess-16-3083-2012, 2012.

Irrigation development is rapidly expanding in mostly rainfed Sub-Saharan Africa. This expansion underscores the need for a more comprehensive understanding of water resources beyond surface water. Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) satellites provide valuable information on spatio-temporal variability in water storage.

Identifying Recommendation Domains for Targeting Dual-purpose Maize-based Interventions in Crop-livestock Systems in East Africa

Authors
An Notenbaerta, Mario Herreroa, Hugo De Grooteb, Liang Youc, Ernesto Gonzalez-Estradaa, Michael Blummela
Publisher
Land Use Policy
Publication date
Location
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264837712001214
Source / Citation
An Notenbaert, Mario Herrero, Hugo De Groote, Liang You, Ernesto Gonzalez-Estrada, Michael Blummel, Identifying recommendation domains for targeting dual-purpose maize-based interventions in crop-livestock systems in East Africa, Land Use Policy, Volume 30, Issue 1, January 2013, Pages 834-846, ISSN 0264-8377, 10.1016/j.landusepol.2012.06.016.

In the three major maize producing countries in the East African region of Kenya, Tanzania and Ethiopia, up to 44% of the dietary calorie requirements is provided by maize. It is also recognized that livestock are an essential asset of poor farmers in the mixed crop-livestocksystems in this region. One of the major constraints to their productivity is, however, feed availability. A significant proportion of this feed is sourced from maize stover. We engaged in a multi-disciplinary research of dual-purposemaize cultivars with the purpose of contributing to smallholder food security.

Trends and spatial patterns in agricultural productivity in Africa, 1961-2010

Authors
Samuel Benin, Alejandro Nin Pratt, Stanley Wood, Zhe Guo
Publisher
International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI)
Publication date
Location
https://ebrary.ifpri.org/digital/collection/p15738coll2/id/127142

The Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) provides an agriculture-led integrated framework of development priorities aimed at reducing poverty and increasing food security by achieving an average of 6 percent agricultural growth rate every year.

Forest management and economic rents: Evidence from the charcoal trade in Madagascar

Authors
Bart Minten, Klas Sander and David Stifel
Publisher
Energy for Sustainable Development
Publication date
Location
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0973082612000543
Country

Licensing the exploitation of forest resources is often used as a preferred policy to regulate natural resource management in developing countries. Based on survey data from 178 charcoal traders, this paper studies the regulated charcoal trade in Madagascar and tests if regulatory control through a licensing system leads to rents (i.e., excess payments above those required to induce or provide for production) in charcoal trade. Two main findings were made.