世界银行-农业集约化有回报吗？（英）-2023.4-61页_1mb

Does Agricultural Intensification Pay?

Introduction

This paper examines the effects of agricultural intensification on farm performance, market orientation, food security, and labor productivity among smallholder rice farmers in C�te d'Ivoire. Using data from randomized trials, it investigates four production packages: traditional, semi-traditional, semi-modern, and modern, combining elements like agro-chemicals and mechanized land preparation to assess their profitability and impact on structural transformation.

Key Findings

• Productivity and Profitability: Intensification significantly increases land and labor productivity, with yields doubling to tripling in modern packages. Profit margins vary, with semi-modern packages showing substantial net gains, while modern packages face challenges due to higher input costs.
• Labor Reallocation: Labor productivity improves, with shifts toward waged labor and reductions in household labor use, though child labor remains unchanged. Mechanization primarily reduces labor in land preparation and harvesting.
• Specialization and Food Security: Farmers adopt specialization and greater market orientation, leading to reduced food insecurity and productivity gains that free labor for other activities.
• Gender and Children: Gender balance in labor remains stable, but child labor input does not decrease and may increase slightly in semi-modern systems.

Methodology

The study employs a multinomial treatment effects model with instrumental variables to control for endogeneity. Data from 1,039 rice farming households in three regions of C�te d'Ivoire were analyzed for labor inputs, outputs, and outcome variables, with econometric corrections to isolate treatment effects.

Implications

The findings support that agricultural intensification can be profitable and conducive to structural transformation. Policy efforts should focus on accessibility of modern technologies, labor productivity metrics, and addressing constraints to wider adoption in Sub-Saharan Africa.