The Economic Impact of the South African Agricultural Research Council's Dry Beans Breeding Program

Thula Dlamini, Lanier Nalley, Francis Tsiboe, Andrew Barkley and Aaron Shew

Journal of Agricultural and Applied Economics, 2017, vol. 49, issue 2

Abstract: This study estimates the dry bean yield increase in South Africa that is attributable to genetic improvements through the Agricultural Research Council's (ARC) bean breeding program. Using 32 test plots across South Africa from 1982 to 2014, results indicate that ARC breeding increased average yields by 11.65 kg/ha annually, for a cumulative 43.28% increase. These yield increases were not at the expense of yield variance, an important measure of food security. These findings indicate that the returns on investment are relatively high (an estimated 5.67:1 benefit-cost ratio) and can lead to greater food security though increased and stabilized bean yields.

Keywords: Crop Production/Industries; Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ags:joaaec:352057

DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.352057

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