The low population density, frequent insecurity and poor power supply in many countries in SSA strikes me as a big disincentive to farmers to invest in their plots, as they have problems getting stuff to market cheaply, and processors also struggle to do so cheaply. Not sure how much of a role this plays?
The low population density, frequent insecurity and poor power supply in many countries in SSA strikes me as a big disincentive to farmers to invest in their plots, as they have problems getting stuff to market cheaply, and processors also struggle to do so cheaply. Not sure how much of a role this plays?
Australia also has a lot population density. We have been a food exporter for most of our history. The natives didn't even develop agriculture when we arrived (outside of some very small pockets).
The biggest disincentive in agriculture comes from weak property rights. The fact that farmland is controlled by these big tribal chiefs instead of individual household farmers.
The logistics thing is a challenge. But it comes Africa's historic lack of navigable river. Disease pressure also kills the beasts of burden like horses and cows. The latter should be less of a problem now due to the advent of ICE and EVs.
yes, but I think african elites simply clearing the resident populations to build cattle and wheat farms and then giving themselves property rights will have a few problems along the way....
The tribal land system was built up during the colonial period. No need to be all nostalgic about it. In the current system there reason for a farmer to work hard if all their extra income is spread to their 100 cousins.
Also asia went through massive land to tiller programs in the 60-80s period. I don't know why these leftists types thing being pro property rights mean being pro elites. Before the modern property rights regime the elites were the only ones who could afford to own land since land owners needed their own private security.
I am referring to why people in Australia are able to have 10,000 hectare farms..... there were people there beforehand, evne if they weren't farming.
Am not nostalgic, I have regular dealings with chiefs in several countries, they vary from extremely helpful and well intentioned to pure rent extracters, the one thing they are not is consistent and easy to reckon with at scale.... regardless there isn't a great drive ot buy up land in most countries in the few lands I know well, even where it is easily possible.
The low population density, frequent insecurity and poor power supply in many countries in SSA strikes me as a big disincentive to farmers to invest in their plots, as they have problems getting stuff to market cheaply, and processors also struggle to do so cheaply. Not sure how much of a role this plays?
Australia also has a lot population density. We have been a food exporter for most of our history. The natives didn't even develop agriculture when we arrived (outside of some very small pockets).
The biggest disincentive in agriculture comes from weak property rights. The fact that farmland is controlled by these big tribal chiefs instead of individual household farmers.
The logistics thing is a challenge. But it comes Africa's historic lack of navigable river. Disease pressure also kills the beasts of burden like horses and cows. The latter should be less of a problem now due to the advent of ICE and EVs.
yes, but I think african elites simply clearing the resident populations to build cattle and wheat farms and then giving themselves property rights will have a few problems along the way....
The tribal land system was built up during the colonial period. No need to be all nostalgic about it. In the current system there reason for a farmer to work hard if all their extra income is spread to their 100 cousins.
Also asia went through massive land to tiller programs in the 60-80s period. I don't know why these leftists types thing being pro property rights mean being pro elites. Before the modern property rights regime the elites were the only ones who could afford to own land since land owners needed their own private security.
I am referring to why people in Australia are able to have 10,000 hectare farms..... there were people there beforehand, evne if they weren't farming.
Am not nostalgic, I have regular dealings with chiefs in several countries, they vary from extremely helpful and well intentioned to pure rent extracters, the one thing they are not is consistent and easy to reckon with at scale.... regardless there isn't a great drive ot buy up land in most countries in the few lands I know well, even where it is easily possible.