Poverty and child farm labour in Africa: wealth paradox or bad orthodox

The link between poverty and child labor has traditionally been regarded as well established but recent researches have questioned its validity, suggesting that child labor is more important in the richest households (wealth paradox). The present study revisits the link between poverty and farm child labor in Africa and aims at testing the paradoxical wealth effect. Using different modeling techniques, the analysis focuses on family-controlled child labor taking place in the cocoa sector of Côte d'Ivoire. The results reveal that the effect of different commonly used wealth proxies have opposite effects on child labor participation and are sometimes sensitive to the modeling technique. This mixed result is the root of the apparent wealth paradox found in the literature. However, relevant and robust wealth proxies clearly indicate a positive relationship between poverty and child labor. The study therefore sustains that the apparent wealth paradox found in the literature is the end result of a bad orthodoxy

Modeling farmers’ decisions on integrated soil nutrient management in sub-Saharan Africa: a multinomial logit analysis in Cameroon

Much of the technical work on integrated soil nutrient management in sub-Saharan Africa has not considered the determinants of farmers’ adoption decisions. It is important that technical research on these integrated soil nutrient management options be guided by consideration of the factors that determine farmers’ decisions to combine organic and inorganic nutrients. Economists investigating consumer demand have accumulated considerable evidence showing that the observed decision choice on an agricultural technology is the end result of a complex set of inter-technology preference comparisons made by farmers. This study analyzes the factors that affect farmers’ decisions to adopt different soil nutrient management practices in Cameroon. The technologies evaluated are inorganic fertilizers, organic fertilizers, and combine use of organic and inorganic fertilizers. A Multinomial Logit model was used to capture choice probabilities across these soil nutrient management categories. Data from a random survey of 217 peri-urban farmers are used in the investigation. The results show that the factors affecting farmers’ choices across the soil nutrient management categories are different and should be taken into consideration in efforts to promote integrated soil nutrient management practices within agroecosystems in rural areas of Cameroon. The study ends by raising a number of implications for strategies to promote integrated soil nutrient management among peri-urban gardening and fruit tree farmers in Cameroo

Lechec de la production agricole en Afrique francophone

Cet article examine les changements dans la productivité agricole dans 8 pays francophones. La performance relative du secteur agricole a été évaluée à l'aide de l'analyse de l'enveloppement des données. À partir d'un ensemble de données de panel sur les 8 pays, incluant la période de 30 ans 1970-2000, des méthodes de programmation mathématique ont été utilisées pour mesurer les indices de Malmquist de la productivité totale des facteurs. Il a été constaté que, durant cette période, la productivité totale des facteurs a connu une évolution négative dans les pays de l'échantillon. Une décomposition de ces mesures suggère que la plus grande partie de la faible performance des facteurs de productivité est attribuable davantage au changement technologique qu'à l'évolution de l'efficacité technique. Des exemples de données montrent que la dévaluation du franc CFA a eu un impact positif sur le secteur. Nous avons également constaté que, par rapport aux pays non sahéliens, les pays sahéliens ont connu une faible performance de leur secteur agricole au cours de la période 1970-2000

Productivity growth, technical progress, and efficiency change in Africa agriculture

The paper examines the economic performance of a large number of African countries using an international comparable data set and the latest technique for analysis. The paper focuses on growth in total factor productivity and its decomposition into technical change and efficiency change components. The analysis is undertaken using the data envelopment analysis (DEA). The present study uses data of 16 countries over the period 1970–2001. It was found that, globally, during that period, total factor productivity has experienced a positive evolution in sampled countries. This good performance of the agricultural sector was due to good progress in technical efficiency rather than technical progress. The region suffered a regression in productivity in the 1970s, and made some progress during the 1980s and 1990s. The study also highlights the fact that technical change has been the main constraint of achievement of high levels of total factor productivity during the reference period in sub‐Saharan Africa. Contrariwise, in Maghreb countries, technological change has been the main driving force of productivity growth. Finally, the results indicate that institutional factors as well as agro‐ecological factors are important determinants of agricultural productivity growth

On measuring indebtedness of African countries: a stochastic frontier debt production function

At least since the early 1990s, the problem of Africa’s debt was a recurring theme in the development debate and many suggestions for debt relief have now been implemented. However, a thorough solution is hampered by the existence of multiple ways of scaling debt. This paper provides a framework for comprehensively measuring indebtedness and gives therefore a basis for setting objective principles for debt reduction measures. The paper uses a stochastic frontier production function approach and the technical efficiency computation procedure to develop an indebtedness index for 46 African countries. The results indicate an indebtedness index across countries ranging from a minimum of 3.6 (South-Africa) to a maximum of 92 (Zambia), with an average of 69. Countries, which have experienced extended civil wars, are generally less indebted, while countries with more corrupt governments have generally contracted more multilateral debt. The paper ends by raising a number of implications for a better approach of debt management in Africa

Analyse des determinants du choix des methodes de lutte contre les pestes dans les plantations de cacao et cafe au sud Cameroon

Cet article analyze the determinants of cholera des méthodes de lutte contre les pestes, dans les plantations de café et de cacao des communautés paysannes du sud-Cameroun. Les méthodes sont chimiques, traditionnelles, et mixtes. Pour capter l'influence des variables socio-économiques sur la probabilité d'utilisation des différentes méthodes, a multinomial logit modèle a été utilisé. Les résultats obtenus révèlent the variables which influence significantly the choix des différents moyens utilisés pair them planteurs. Il dé dégage that the socio-economic determinants of the adoption of methods of protection of cultures, sont différents de l'une à l'autre. Afin d'atténuer les conséquences néfastes dues à l'utilization abusive des produits synthétiques, cette observation doit être prise en compte pour la mise en place des politiques de vulgarisation des systèmes de protection intégrée

Determinants of chemical input use in periurban lowland systems: bivariate probit analysis in Cameroon

Low use of chemical inputs has been cited as a major factor limiting productivity growth of agriculture in most of sub-Saharan Africa. A wide range of variables influence adoption of such input. It is important to understand the role of these factors to ensure the development and implementation of more effective programs to promote agricultural input use. This study examines the effect of socio-economic factors on the likelihood of using chemical fertilizer and pesticide in peri-urban lowland agricultural systems in Cameroon. Rather than the univariate probit model which is commonly used, the bivariate probit model is employed to take account of the correlation between the disturbances. Results generally indicate that lowland farmers who are more highly educated, those with temporary land rights and those whose fields are more distant from the homestead are more likely to use chemical fertilizer. In the same way, lowland male farmers, those who have contact with extension, those who have temporary land rights or those practising continuous cropping are more likely to use chemical pesticides

On measuring indebtedness of African countries

Since the 1950s, export credits have been an important source of finance in most African countries, where they allow more to be invested with less sacrifice of current consumption. This paper provides a framework for comprehensively measuring indebtedness and gives, therefore, a basis for setting objective principles for debt reduction measures. The paper uses a stochastic frontier production function approach and the technical efficiency computation procedure to develop an indebtedness index for 46 African countries. Variations in indebtedness index are explained through a number of institutional, socio-political and geographical factors. The indebtedness index across African countries ranges from a minimum of 3.6% (South Africa) to a maximum of 92% (Zambia), with an average of 69%. Former French colonies exhibited higher indebtedness than former British, Portuguese, or Spanish colonies. Countries in the northern part of the continent are relatively more indebted, while those in the southern part have a lower indebtedness index. Countries which have experienced extended civil wars are generally less indebted. Finally, we measured a significantly higher indebtedness among those countries with dictatorial and corrupt governments