Empirical Analysis of the Role of Population Mutations on Agricultural Productivity in Sub-Saharan Africa

Abstract

This paper aims to analyze the role of population growth in the explanation of agricultural productivity in the context of Sub-Saharan African countries. Based on available data, we collected data on a sample of 24 Sub-Saharan African countries over the period 2000-2018. The empirical method consists of estimating an agricultural production function in turn by Generalized Least Squares (GMM) estimators on panel data and Generalized Moments (GLS) estimators in system. The results suggest that pesticide use is positively and significantly correlated (at the 1% threshold) with agricultural productivity in SSA. They also show that life expectancy at birth positively and significantly explain agricultural productivity in SSA. This means that the larger the population, the more important agricultural productivity is. The rural population is negatively correlated with agricultural productivity, reducing agricultural employment as rural populations migrate in search of better living conditions. We therefore suggest that African governments step up financial support programs for young people to limit the brain drain and encourage agricultural employment.