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Productivity in Malagasy rice systems: wealth‐differentiated constraints and priorities
Author(s) -
Minten Bart,
Randrianarisoa JeanClaude,
Barrett Christopher B.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
agricultural economics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.29
H-Index - 82
eISSN - 1574-0862
pISSN - 0169-5150
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-0862.2007.00247.x
Subject(s) - productivity , agricultural economics , agricultural productivity , agriculture , panel data , economics , fertilizer , production (economics) , business , psychological intervention , natural resource economics , economic growth , geography , microeconomics , agronomy , econometrics , psychology , archaeology , psychiatry , biology
This study explores the constraints on agricultural productivity and priorities in boosting productivity in rice, the main staple in Madagascar, using a range of different data sets and analytical methods, integrating qualitative assessments by farmers and quantitative evidence from panel data production function analysis and willingness‐to‐pay estimates for chemical fertilizer. Nationwide, farmers seek primarily labor productivity enhancing interventions, e.g., improved access to agricultural equipment, cattle, and irrigation. Shock mitigation measures, land productivity increasing technologies, and improved land tenure are reported to be much less important. Research and interventions aimed at reducing costs and price volatility within the fertilizer supply chain might help at least the more accessible regions to more readily adopt chemical fertilizer.