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The Economics of Desertification, Land Degradation, and Drought

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Figure 2.9—Yield trend <strong>of</strong> major cereals in eastern Africa, 1981–2009<br />

2.50<br />

2.00<br />

1.50<br />

1.00<br />

0.50<br />

0.00<br />

Source: FAOSTAT.<br />

Figure 2.10—Cereal yield trend in Cameroon, 1981–2009<br />

2.0<br />

1.8<br />

1.6<br />

1.4<br />

1.2<br />

1.0<br />

0.8<br />

0.6<br />

0.4<br />

0.2<br />

0.0<br />

Source: FAOSTAT.<br />

<strong>The</strong> major reason behind the increasing yields in eastern <strong>and</strong> southern Africa <strong>and</strong> Cameroon<br />

is an increase in the use <strong>of</strong> improved seeds <strong>and</strong> fertilizer. Excluding South Africa <strong>and</strong> Zimbabwe in<br />

southern Africa, nitrogen application rates increased by about 10 percent from 2002–2004 to 2005–<br />

2006 in countries that showed severe l<strong>and</strong> degradation (Table 2.2). Investments in infrastructure <strong>and</strong><br />

other rural development programs have also been key to Africa’s fast growth in the past decade<br />

(Foster <strong>and</strong> Briceño-Garmendia 2010).<br />

23<br />

y = 0.002x + 1.329<br />

y = 0.003x + 0.825<br />

y = 0.016x + 1.717<br />

y = 0.002x + 0.923<br />

1983<br />

1984<br />

1985<br />

1986<br />

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2009<br />

Cereals Maize Millet Rice, paddy<br />

y = 0.03x + 0.92<br />

1981<br />

1982<br />

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.<br />

.

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