Impacts of agricultural trade and market liberalization of food security in developing countries: comparative study of Kenya and Zambia
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Date
2010-09
Authors
Nyairo, N.M.
Kola, Jukka
Sumelius, J.
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Abstract
The introduction of agricultural reforms has debatable effects on food security in developing
countries. This research investigates how such effects influenced maize supply in two
developing countries which were among the first to introduce agricultural reforms.
Conclusions from the research suggest that agricultural reforms led to mixed results. This may
be attributed to the sometimes stop-go nature of reform implementation. The mixed results are
reflected in the weak maize output response to price changes. Overall country economic
conditions, state of agricultural development can be attributed to the pace of response, hence
effect on agricultural supply. Elasticity of maize output to changes in price and acreage are
strongly significant in maize output for the case of Kenya. Both restricted models of maize
production suggest that prior to the introduction of reforms acreage, prices and alternative
crops were more elastic when simulated with Zambian data than with Kenyan data.
Description
Contributed Paper presented at the Joint 3rd African Association of Agricultural
Economists (AAAE) and 48th Agricultural Economists Association of South Africa
(AEASA) Conference, Cape Town, South Africa, September 19-23, 2010.
Keywords
Food security, Agricultural reforms, Elasticity of supply