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Poverty and Agriculture in Southern Africa Revisited: A Panel Causality Perspective

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  • Festus Victor Bekun
  • Seyi Saint Akadiri

Abstract

Agricultural advancement is considered a panacea for poverty reduction, particularly, in developing countries. This study empirically investigates the dynamic linkage between agricultural value added (AVA) and poverty reduction for a panel of nine countries in Southern Africa using a second-generation panel approach for the period 1990 to 2015. Empirical results show that agricultural development is necessary but not a sufficient policy to combat poverty as it is only viable in the short run. Thus, we suggest long-run economic programs and/or strategies that will complement agricultural development toward poverty alleviation to spur economic growth in the sampled region.

Suggested Citation

  • Festus Victor Bekun & Seyi Saint Akadiri, 2019. "Poverty and Agriculture in Southern Africa Revisited: A Panel Causality Perspective," SAGE Open, , vol. 9(1), pages 21582440198, February.
  • Handle: RePEc:sae:sagope:v:9:y:2019:i:1:p:2158244019828853
    DOI: 10.1177/2158244019828853
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    Cited by:

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    2. Lovemore C. Gwiriri & James Bennett & Cletos Mapiye & Sara Burbi, 2021. "Emerging from Below? Understanding the Livelihood Trajectories of Smallholder Livestock Farmers in Eastern Cape Province, South Africa," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(2), pages 1-24, February.
    3. Asongu, Simplice & Odhiambo, Nicholas, 2020. "The role of Globalization in Modulating the Effect of Environmental Degradation on Inclusive Human Development," MPRA Paper 103143, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    4. Mary O. Agboola & Festus V. Bekun, 2019. "Does Agricultural Value Added Induce Environmental Degradation? Empirical Evidence from an Agrarian Country," CEREDEC Working Papers 19/040, Centre de Recherche pour le Développement Economique (CEREDEC).
    5. Asongu, Simplice & Agboola, Mary & Alola, Andrew & Bekun, Festus, 2019. "The criticality of growth, urbanization, electricity and fossil fuel consumption to environment sustainability in Africa," MPRA Paper 102056, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    6. Long Yang & Haiyang Lu & Sangui Wang & Meng Li, 2021. "Mobile Internet Use and Multidimensional Poverty: Evidence from A Household Survey in Rural China," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 158(3), pages 1065-1086, December.
    7. Olawumi Abeni Osundina & Festus Victor Bekun & Dervis Kirikkaleli & Mary Oluwatoyin Agboola, 2019. "Does the twin growth catalyst of oil rent seeking and agriculture exhibit complementary or substitute role? New perspective from a West African country," Letters in Spatial and Resource Sciences, Springer, vol. 12(3), pages 187-197, December.
    8. Francess Dufie Azumah & Nachinaab John Onzaberigu & Awinaba Amoah Adongo, 2023. "Gender, agriculture and sustainable livelihood among rural farmers in northern Ghana," Economic Change and Restructuring, Springer, vol. 56(5), pages 3257-3279, October.
    9. Achuo, Elvis D., 2023. "Resource wealth and the development dilemma in Africa: The role of policy syndromes," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 83(C).
    10. Ndivhuho Tshikovhi & Krantisagar More & Zamaswazi Cele, 2023. "Driving Sustainable Growth for Small and Medium Enterprises in Emerging Urban–Rural Economies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(21), pages 1-11, October.

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