Fresh insights from new research shaping Africa’s food systems, resilience, and economic development
Key Insight of the Week
Road infrastructure can be a powerful driver of agricultural productivity. Evidence from Malawi shows that access to paved roads is associated with productivity increases ranging from 35% to 57% over a 10-year period, highlighting the importance of rural connectivity for sustained agricultural growth and transformation.
Featured Report of the Week
Paving the way: The impact of road infrastructure on agricultural productivity in isolated African settings by Henry Kankwamba and Karl Pauw
Road infrastructure is widely recognized as an important enabler of agricultural growth, but evidence on its longer-term contribution to productivity remains limited in isolated settings. In this week’s Evidence for Africa, IFPRI researchers examine the relationship between paved road access and crop productivity in Malawi using three large, nationally representative survey datasets and group-time difference-in-difference estimation strategies.
The study finds significant positive effects of access to paved roads on crop productivity, measured by the average value product of land. Importantly, the estimated productivity gains increase over time, ranging from 35% to 57% over a 10-year period.
The findings highlight the broader role of rural road infrastructure in agricultural transformation. Improved road networks can strengthen farmers’ access to markets, reduce transport costs and postharvest losses, and create incentives for the adoption of productivity-enhancing technologies. The evidence provides a strong rationale for greater investment in rural roads as part of strategies to promote sustained agricultural productivity growth.
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PLOS Water, 5(8)
Cost-effectiveness analysis of iron, vitamin A, and zinc biofortification in selected low- and middle-income countries: A modelling study (A Rank; OA; PR; ISI)
Zeng, Wu; Nam, Janice; Gao, Tianjiao; Lenaerts, Bert; Boy, Erick
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IFPRI Malawi maize market report, July 2026 (OA)
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About Evidence for Africa
Evidence for Africa highlights every week recent IFPRI research and insights relevant to the continent’s food systems, economic development, and policy priorities.
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