scholarly journals Climate change and agricultural development in West Africa: Role of renewable energy and trade openness

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 14-31
Author(s):  
Essossinam Ali

The design, implementation, and evaluation of energy policies in combating climate change are becoming increasingly evident to strengthen economic growth driven by the agricultural sector in most developing countries. The study analyzes the direct and indirect effects of renewable energy consumption (REC) on agriculture value-added (AgVA), CO2 emissions, and trade openness in the short- and long-run in the West African countries. The second-generation panel unit root tests, the panel cointegration methods, and Panel Vector Error Correction Model are used with World Bank data from 1990 to 2015. A panel Granger causality test was also used to determine the direction of causality between variables. Findings show a unidirectional relationship between AgVA, CO2 emissions, and REC; between REC, gross fixe capital formation (GFCF) and trade openness. Moreover, the bidirectional hypothesis is verified between agricultural development and trade openness. However, the null hypothesis is found between AgVA and GFCF, on the one hand, and GFCF and CO2 emissions, on the other hand. These results suggest that fostering renewable energy policy and revisiting trade policy toward reducing environmental pollution will enable agricultural development and boost the regional economy. AcknowledgmentThe author wants to thank Dr. Moukpè GNINIGUE for his technical supports and Prof. Jean Marcelin Bosson BROU from the University of Houphouet Boigny (Cote d’Ivoire), Dr. Odzadifo K. WONYRA and Dr. Hodabalo BATAKA from the University of Kara, Dr. Koffi Massesso ADJI from the West African Sciences Services Centre on Climate Change and Land Use (University of Cheikh Anta Diop, Dakar) and Essotanam MAMBA from the University of Lomé for their constructive comments on the earlier version of this manuscripts. Finally, the author is grateful to the anonymous reviewers and Editor-in-Chief of Environmental Economics, whose comments have improved this paper. However, the opinions expressed in this paper are solely those of the author.

2017 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 174 ◽  
Author(s):  
Youmanli Ouoba

The objective of this work is to address the validity of a quadratic environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) hypothesis in the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) countries over the period 1970-2010. The bound test procedure is used to analyze the relationship between CO2 emissions and GDP. The results indicate that there is no long term relationship between these variables for the panel of 8 countries of the WAEMU. Similarly, the co-integration exists only in Benin, Mali and Togo. For the purposes of robustness check, additional variables (energy consumption and trade openness) and the Sasabuchi–Lind–Mehlum U test are used. The results confirm the validity of a quadratic carbon Kuznets curve only in Mali. Moreover, the validity of the "pollution havens" hypothesis suggests that the government of Mali should strengthen its environmental regulation policy to limit the influx of polluting industries in the country.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Laurent Oloukoi

PurposeThe paper analyzes the response of agricultural value added to credit and real interest rate shocks in the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) and make a short-term comparative effect analysis of credit granted to the agricultural sector on agricultural value added among member countries.Design/methodology/approachFirst, in order to estimate impulse response functions (IRFs) and study shocks, a panel VAR model is used. Second the paper uses an autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) model with the associated error correction model to make a comparative analysis of the effect of agricultural credit on agricultural value added in the WAEMU.FindingsResults shows that: (1) credit stimulates agricultural value added only in the medium and long term; (2) in the case of WAEMU, credit only becomes a means of lifting the constraint of capital underutilization after three years; (3) short-term credit granted to agriculture in WAEMU has a weak and differentiated effect on agricultural value added from one country to another.Originality/valueThe originality of this paper is that it makes the link between macroeconomics and agriculture. It shows how the monetary instrument can be manipulated to improve the performance of agriculture. Actually, in WAEMU, the financing of agriculture is provided by the market. This paper proposes a new approach which is direct financing. The paper offers possibilities for the coordination of agricultural policies in the WAEMU.


Mousaion ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 1-24
Author(s):  
Emmanuel Elia ◽  
Stephen Mutula ◽  
Christine Stilwell

This study was part of broader PhD research which investigated how access to, and use of, information enhances adaptation to climate change and variability in the agricultural sector in semi-arid Central Tanzania. The research was carried out in two villages using Rogers’ Diffusion of Innovations theory and model to assess the dissemination of this information and its use by farmers in their adaptation of their farming practices to climate change and variability. This predominantly qualitative study employed a post-positivist paradigm. Some elements of a quantitative approach were also deployed in the data collection and analysis. The principal data collection methods were interviews and focus group discussions. The study population comprised farmers, agricultural extension officers and the Climate Change Adaptation in Africa project manager. Qualitative data were subjected to content analysis whereas quantitative data were analysed to generate mostly descriptive statistics using SPSS.  Key findings of the study show that farmers perceive a problem in the dissemination and use of climate information for agricultural development. They found access to agricultural inputs to be expensive, unreliable and untimely. To mitigate the adverse effects of climate change and variability on farming effectively, the study recommends the repackaging of current and accurate information on climate change and variability, farmer education and training, and collaboration between researchers, meteorology experts, and extension officers and farmers. Moreover, a clear policy framework for disseminating information related to climate change and variability is required.


2017 ◽  
pp. 713-738
Author(s):  
Steve Maximay

To fully appreciate climate change impacts and adaptations in the Caribbean, several aspects of the phenomenon and the region's response must be placed in historical and chronological sequence. This chapter starts with a review of the Caribbean islands, focusing on the agricultural sector and its vulnerability to climate change impacts. It then provides a brief review of the Caribbean's foray into organized planning for climate change; the early advocacy of those who believed the issue was a serious threat to the region, and the projects that were developed. It also traces organized institutional level responses, some national efforts, and the degree to which climate change issues have now become part of the routine agricultural development discourse. An overview of the possible climate change impacts and the programmed adaptations at a regional level are presented, and the chapter ends with a look at the importance of communication to raise awareness and ultimately change behaviours.


2013 ◽  
Vol 8 (38) ◽  
pp. 4693-4705 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Callo-Concha ◽  
◽  
Thomas Gaiser ◽  
Heidi Webber ◽  
Bernhard Tischbein ◽  
...  

1965 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 432-433
Author(s):  
Lalage Bown

This seminar was held under the auspices of the Department of Adult Education and Extra-Mural Studies, at the University of Ibadan. For a number of years, the Department has attempted to encourage African writing and the study of African literature, largely under the leadership of Chief Ulli Beier, originator and editor of the magazine Black Orpheus; and now that African works in English are included in the list of set books for the West African School Certificate, it seemed necessary to discuss systematically the teaching problems involved.


Author(s):  
Md. Wali Ahad Setu ◽  
Md. Ekramul Hosen ◽  
Mohummed Shofi Ullah Mazumder ◽  
Sk. Md. Nur-E-Alam ◽  
A. F. M. Mahbubul Hasan

Southern part of Bangladesh is one of the most affected areas confronting the effects of climate change especially in agricultural sector. The study was planned to examine effect of climate change on agriculture in the saline prone areas, and estimate the level of contribution of the selected characteristics of the farmers to the effect of climate change on agriculture. For this reason, data were collected from 88 farmers under study group and 30 farmers under control group from 16 March, 2017 to 15 April, 2017. Descriptive statistics, multiple regression, t-test were used for data analysis. There was a negative effect of climate change on agriculture comparing the study and control group changed score from 2015 to 2017. In case of study group, 61.4 percent of the farmers had medium effect, 17.0 percent had low effect and 21.6 percent of the farmers had high effect of climate change on agriculture. It was also found that out of eleven factors, seven namely age, level of education, annual family income, farming experience, training exposure, agricultural knowledge and knowledge on climate change had significant contribution to the effect of climate change on agriculture in the saline prone areas. It is concluded that climate change may play a significant role in decreasing the yield of cereal crops, yield of vegetables, yield of pulses and increasing number of adopted new varieties of agricultural crops by the farmers. It is recommended that the Bangladesh government and NGOs should take initiative for reducing effect of climate change on agriculture for a sustainable agricultural development.


1963 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 364-377
Author(s):  
G. Montsma

At the University of Ghana's Agricultural Research Station at Nungua observations were begun in 1957 on the performance of West African Shorthorn, N'Dama and Sokoto Gudali cattle. The main preliminary findings are discussed under the following headings: body weight, growth rate, milk yield, reproductive efficiency, and dentition and age. In spite of the fact that the N'Dama and West African Shorthorn are naturally small animals, body weight and growth rate could be substantially increased by better feeding. Insufficient data are as yet available on the Sokoto. Under the better-than-average feeding conditions at the station, av. body weight at 8 mths. was 305 lb. in the N'Dama, 340 lb. in the West African Shorthorn, and 470 lb. in the Sokoto. Maximum body weight at 8 mths. was 340, 360 and 550 lb. resp. In animals fed a concentrate supplement, av. 252-day milk yields per 100 lb. body weight were 295, 300 and 335 lb. for the N'Dama, West African Shorthorn and Sokoto resp. max. yields, expressed in a similar manner, being 416, 430 and 458 lb. resp. Milk yields were estimated by weighing the calves before and after suckling thrice daily for approx. 20 mins The av. calving percentages for the 3 breeds were 85, 83 and 76 resp. which are equivalent to calving intervals of 14-2, 14.5 and 15.8 mths. The av. age at 1st calving in the West African Shorthorn was estimated to be 3 yrs. (2.3-3.8). Insufficient data were available on the other 2 breeds. It is considered that, if adequately fed, heifers are capable of calving at 27-30 mths. of age. (Abstract retrieved from CAB Abstracts by CABI’s permission)


Author(s):  
Syed Abdul Rehman Khan

This panel study investigates the relationship between green logistics indices, economic, environmental, and social factors in the perspective of Asian emerging economies. This study adopted FMOLS and DOLS methods to test research hypothesis, catering the problem of endogenity and serial correlation. The results suggest that logistics operations, particularly LPI2 (efficiency of customs clearance processes), LPI4 (quality of logistics services) and LPI5 (trade and transport-related infrastructure), are positively and significantly correlated with per capita income, manufacturing value added and trade openness. While, greater logistics operations are negatively associated with social and environmental problems including, climate change, global warming, carbon emissions, and poisoning atmosphere. In addition, human health is badly affected by heavy smog, acid rainfall, and water pollution. The findings further extend and reveal that political instability, natural disaster and terrorism are also a primary cause of poor economic growth and environmental sustainability with poor trade and logistics infrastructure. Further, the application of renewable energy resources and green practices can mitigate negative effects on social and environmental sustainability without compromising the performance of economic growth. There is very limited empirical work presented in literature using renewable energy and green ideology to solve macro-level social and environmental problems, while this study will assist the policymakers and researchers to understand the importance of green concept in improving countries’ social, economic and environmental performance.


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