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Efficiency–equity tradeoffs and the scope for resource reallocation in agricultural research: evidence from Nigeria

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  • Arega D. Alene
  • V. M. Manyong
  • Eric F. Tollens
  • Steffen Abele

Abstract

On the basis of projected economic and poverty impacts of alternative commodity research programs, this article assessed efficiency and equity tradeoffs and the scope for research resource reallocation in Nigeria. Given the importance of major food staples to both poor and nonpoor households in production and consumption, introducing a poverty dimension revealed no significant shift in priorities compared with those implied by efficiency. The results showed that neither the additional benefits to the poor nor the foregone benefits to society are significant from prioritizing research according to equity—relative to efficiency—criteria. As current priorities are supported by neither efficiency nor equity criteria, however, there is considerable scope for maximizing research benefits to the poor through informed reallocation of research resources. The article concludes with a discussion of the patterns of resource reallocations implied by efficiency and equity criteria.

Suggested Citation

  • Arega D. Alene & V. M. Manyong & Eric F. Tollens & Steffen Abele, 2009. "Efficiency–equity tradeoffs and the scope for resource reallocation in agricultural research: evidence from Nigeria," Agricultural Economics, International Association of Agricultural Economists, vol. 40(1), pages 1-14, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:agecon:v:40:y:2009:i:1:p:1-14
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1574-0862.2008.00340.x
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    2. Takeshima, Hiroyuki & Nasir, Abdullahi Mohammed, 2017. "The role of the locations of public sector varietal development activities on agricultural productivity: Evidence from northern Nigeria:," NSSP working papers 42, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
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    5. Arega D Alene & Tahirou Abdoulaye & Joseph Rusike & Ricardo Labarta & Bernardo Creamer & Martha del Río & Hernan Ceballos & Luis Augusto Becerra, 2018. "Identifying crop research priorities based on potential economic and poverty reduction impacts: The case of cassava in Africa, Asia, and Latin America," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 13(8), pages 1-18, August.

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