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Aggregate productivity and inefficient cropping patterns in Uganda

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  • Bruno Morando

    (Maynooth University)

Abstract

This paper measures the impact of inefficient spatial distribution of crops on aggregate agricultural productivity in Uganda. By combining village level data on land use and on crop specific land suitability, I show that agricultural TFP could be increased by one third just by reallocating crops according to the underlying structure of comparative advantage. Interestingly, a regional decomposition indicates that half of these gains can be achieved just by redistributing crop production within narrowly defined areas serving the same urban markets. The empirical analysis suggests that differences in market access are a good candidate to explain these inefficiencies: in line with the qualitative theoretical model, more isolated farmers devote systematically more land to non-perishable food crops and their production is less aligned with the agro-climatic conditions they face.

Suggested Citation

  • Bruno Morando, 2022. "Aggregate productivity and inefficient cropping patterns in Uganda," Journal of Productivity Analysis, Springer, vol. 58(2), pages 221-237, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jproda:v:58:y:2022:i:2:d:10.1007_s11123-022-00647-y
    DOI: 10.1007/s11123-022-00647-y
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Li, Nicholas, 2023. "In-kind transfers, marketization costs and household specialization: Evidence from Indian farmers," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 164(C).
    2. Bruno Morando, 2024. "Testing the GAEZ agronomic model in the fields:Evidence from Uganda," Economics Department Working Paper Series n320-24.pdf, Department of Economics, National University of Ireland - Maynooth.

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