Economics Working Papers, 2025 (vol. 9), issue 2

Agricultural Sector Performance in SADC Countries

Mabeta Joshua

Economics Working Papers 2025, 9(2):4-53 | DOI: 10.32725/ewp.2025.002147  

This paper reviews the agricultural sector performance of Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries, specifically the efficiency of agricultural production and the overall competitiveness of their agricultural sectors. The study uses data spanning the period from 2001 to 2019 to assess agricultural production performance, and from 2001 to 2021 to investigate the competitiveness of the agricultural sectors. Using Malmquist productivity indices, the findings reveal that while overall productivity has increased in SADC, with 11 out of 15 countries recording an upward trajectory during the review period, technological progress has regressed....