Sources of Agriculture Total Factor Productivity Dynamics in Sub-Saharan Africa – Evidence From 44 Countries (1961-2019)

Abstract

Yagbasuah Maada Baion, Cao Jianmin and Wang Yunxia

This current research involves the estimation of the dynamics in agricultural total factor productivity (TFP) in 44 countries in the Sub-Saharan African (SSA) region for a period of 59 years (1961–2019). The research was carried out based on the Malmquist productivity index, accomplished with decomposition on technological changes and technical-efficiency changes. Further, the factors influencing total productivity in the region were identified, and using the Tobit model, an econometric modeling assessment of their effect on agricultural TFP was performed. The study established an average annual decline of 0.975 (-2.5%) in agriculture TFP for the sample countries, largely due to a 0.975 (-2.5%) technological regression during the study period. The annual average effect of technical efficiency stood at 1.001 (0.1%), indicating that the sample countries were, on average, efficient in the utilization of their existing technology during the study period. Examination of the factors influencing the dynamics in TFP established that such factors as land policy, good governance, conflict, and population pressure influence TFP dynamics.

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