Brian Kapotwe | The University of Zambia (original) (raw)
Papers by Brian Kapotwe
Modern Economy, 2021
Until after the year 2000, there has been limited economic growth in Sub-Saharan Africa. While se... more Until after the year 2000, there has been limited economic growth in Sub-Saharan Africa. While several countries in this region have attained middle-income status and are among the fastest-growing economies globally, many others have stagnated and risk falling back to low-income level. The paper aims to examine GDP per capita economic convergence of 35 Sub-Saharan countries using a unit root model. Second, we isolate countries showing good GDP per capita convergence and reviewed each country to draw out common successful elements as lessons for Zambia. Only six out of the sampled 35 countries have slightly converged towards the United States of America. From the six countries' in-depth review, three key success elements come out as recommendations for Zambia. These include 1) Prudent management of mineral resource endowments such as copper and diamonds. Proceeds from mineral wealth should be reserved for use during hard years and to diversify the economy. 2) Strong focus on agricultural mechanization and support to smallholder farmers to ensure complete agrarian transformation. While the share of agriculture is expected to reduce as the economy grows, such a decline should only happen once the secondary sectors are fully developed. 3) Fiscal discipline in government spending, coupled with a free-market economic system, is a key to sustaining Africa's growth.
Journal of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Nov 15, 2022
Milk production among the smallholder dairy farmers in Zambia is reported to be low despite impro... more Milk production among the smallholder dairy farmers in Zambia is reported to be low despite improvements in milk collection infrastructure and unmet demand by the populace. This study was conducted to characterize cattle breeds and the breeding strategies of the smallholder dairy production system in the Southern province of Zambia. The study was conducted using questionnaires to obtain responses from identified respondents in six districts considered the main dairy cattle producing areas. One hundred and twenty questionnaires were administered and available for descriptive statistical analysis. The cattle genetic groups included local (Tonga and Angoni) breeds and their crosses (40.0%); beef (Boran and Brahman) breeds and their crosses (23.3%); Friesian breed and its crosses (28.8%); Jersey breed and its crosses (4.9%); and Fleckvieh breed (3.0%). Calving rate was found to be to be between 36% and 50% for the dairy herds. Compared to the other genetic groups, it was noted that Friesian and its crosses had higher milk production (3.55 L vs. 1.4 L). The low milk yield reported could be attributed to the period of study, which coincided with the long dry season between April and October. The Friesian and its crosses recorded earlier age at first calving (2.65 vs. 2.8 years), shorter longevity (10.5 vs. 12.25 years), and shorter lactation length (7.5 vs. 9.25 months). Jersey and its crosses, on the other hand, had an above average performance for all indices of economic importance such as milk production, lactation length, age at first calving, longevity, and number of calves produced. The results indicated natural mating was practised by 85% of the farmers. Farmer‐preferred traits include size and conformation (23%); performance and colour (16% and 15%, respectively) in the choice of a bull. Selection by farmers were thus based on simple observation without pedigree or performance‐based genetic evaluation. It was apparent that the smallholder dairy production system is in a shifting trend to transform the mainly local and beef breed animals into dairy herds through crossing with exotic dairy breeds. The production system is, however, faced with the challenges of water and feed supply to meet nutritional requirements, and high disease burden. Jersey breed was found to be a logical choice for the resource poor smallholder dairy farmers. The development and management of the smallholder dairy breeding schemes should be all‐inclusive and directed at the prevalent production systems with the aim of also improving the feeding and management practices.
Journal of Animal Breeding and Genetics
Modern Economy, 2021
While the Middle-Income Trap (MIT) has gained popularity in Europe, Asia and America in the past ... more While the Middle-Income Trap (MIT) has gained popularity in Europe, Asia and America in the past 15 years, little data exists about its impact on Africa. This is because, until recently, Africa had recorded minimal economic growth. However, since the year 2000, several African countries have recorded rapid economic growth to attain middle-income status, but very few have transitioned to high-income levels. This study aimed to establish Zambia’s standing regarding the MIT. A unit root model was used to test for income convergence between Zambia and the United States of America (US). In line with the study model, income convergence is equivalent to the absence of unit root in the natural log difference in per capita income between the US and Zambia. The Augmented Dickey-Fuller, Phillips-Perron test which accounts for serial correlation and GLS detrended augmented Dickey-Fuller test were used to test for the unit root. All tests identified unit root indicating the lack of GDP per capit...
American Journal of Economics, 2021
The ensuing assessment is on whether Zambia's persistent Least Developed Country (LDC) status... more The ensuing assessment is on whether Zambia's persistent Least Developed Country (LDC) status has a bearing on its vulnerability to the Middle Income Trap (MIT). Using an adapted unit root model, Granger causality tests were conducted to establish which variables affect Zambia's GDP per capita income level and predispose it to the MIT. Thus, per capita income, labour productivity, agriculture share to GDP, and manufacturing industry share to GDP were investigated. The results have shown that agriculture share of GDP strongly affects GDP per capita income while manufacturing share of GDP has a weaker effect on GDP per capita. The results further indicate that changes in agriculture share of GDP strongly affects the manufacturing output. Therefore, Zambia should increase investment in agriculture and manufacturing to maintain a positive GDP per capita income growth and to catalyze growth in the secondary sectors.
The ensuing assessment is on whether Zambia's persistent Least Developed Country (LDC) status has... more The ensuing assessment is on whether Zambia's persistent Least Developed Country (LDC) status has a bearing on its vulnerability to the Middle Income Trap (MIT). Using an adapted unit root model, Granger causality tests were conducted to establish which variables affect Zambia's GDP per capita income level and predispose it to the MIT. Thus, per capita income, labour productivity, agriculture share to GDP, and manufacturing industry share to GDP were investigated. The results have shown that agriculture share of GDP strongly affects GDP per capita income while manufacturing share of GDP has a weaker effect on GDP per capita. The results further indicate that changes in agriculture share of GDP strongly affects the manufacturing output. Therefore, Zambia should increase investment in agriculture and manufacturing to maintain a positive GDP per capita income growth and to catalyze growth in the secondary sectors.
Modern Economy, 2021
Until after the year 2000, there has been limited economic growth in Sub-Saharan Africa. While se... more Until after the year 2000, there has been limited economic growth in Sub-Saharan Africa. While several countries in this region have attained middle-income status and are among the fastest-growing economies globally, many others have stagnated and risk falling back to low-income level. The paper aims to examine GDP per capita economic convergence of 35 Sub-Saharan countries using a unit root model. Second, we isolate countries showing good GDP per capita convergence and reviewed each country to draw out common successful elements as lessons for Zambia. Only six out of the sampled 35 countries have slightly converged towards the United States of America. From the six countries' in-depth review, three key success elements come out as recommendations for Zambia. These include 1) Prudent management of mineral resource endowments such as copper and diamonds. Proceeds from mineral wealth should be reserved for use during hard years and to diversify the economy. 2) Strong focus on agricultural mechanization and support to smallholder farmers to ensure complete agrarian transformation. While the share of agriculture is expected to reduce as the economy grows, such a decline should only happen once the secondary sectors are fully developed. 3) Fiscal discipline in government spending, coupled with a free-market economic system, is a key to sustaining Africa's growth.
Journal of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Nov 15, 2022
Milk production among the smallholder dairy farmers in Zambia is reported to be low despite impro... more Milk production among the smallholder dairy farmers in Zambia is reported to be low despite improvements in milk collection infrastructure and unmet demand by the populace. This study was conducted to characterize cattle breeds and the breeding strategies of the smallholder dairy production system in the Southern province of Zambia. The study was conducted using questionnaires to obtain responses from identified respondents in six districts considered the main dairy cattle producing areas. One hundred and twenty questionnaires were administered and available for descriptive statistical analysis. The cattle genetic groups included local (Tonga and Angoni) breeds and their crosses (40.0%); beef (Boran and Brahman) breeds and their crosses (23.3%); Friesian breed and its crosses (28.8%); Jersey breed and its crosses (4.9%); and Fleckvieh breed (3.0%). Calving rate was found to be to be between 36% and 50% for the dairy herds. Compared to the other genetic groups, it was noted that Friesian and its crosses had higher milk production (3.55 L vs. 1.4 L). The low milk yield reported could be attributed to the period of study, which coincided with the long dry season between April and October. The Friesian and its crosses recorded earlier age at first calving (2.65 vs. 2.8 years), shorter longevity (10.5 vs. 12.25 years), and shorter lactation length (7.5 vs. 9.25 months). Jersey and its crosses, on the other hand, had an above average performance for all indices of economic importance such as milk production, lactation length, age at first calving, longevity, and number of calves produced. The results indicated natural mating was practised by 85% of the farmers. Farmer‐preferred traits include size and conformation (23%); performance and colour (16% and 15%, respectively) in the choice of a bull. Selection by farmers were thus based on simple observation without pedigree or performance‐based genetic evaluation. It was apparent that the smallholder dairy production system is in a shifting trend to transform the mainly local and beef breed animals into dairy herds through crossing with exotic dairy breeds. The production system is, however, faced with the challenges of water and feed supply to meet nutritional requirements, and high disease burden. Jersey breed was found to be a logical choice for the resource poor smallholder dairy farmers. The development and management of the smallholder dairy breeding schemes should be all‐inclusive and directed at the prevalent production systems with the aim of also improving the feeding and management practices.
Journal of Animal Breeding and Genetics
Modern Economy, 2021
While the Middle-Income Trap (MIT) has gained popularity in Europe, Asia and America in the past ... more While the Middle-Income Trap (MIT) has gained popularity in Europe, Asia and America in the past 15 years, little data exists about its impact on Africa. This is because, until recently, Africa had recorded minimal economic growth. However, since the year 2000, several African countries have recorded rapid economic growth to attain middle-income status, but very few have transitioned to high-income levels. This study aimed to establish Zambia’s standing regarding the MIT. A unit root model was used to test for income convergence between Zambia and the United States of America (US). In line with the study model, income convergence is equivalent to the absence of unit root in the natural log difference in per capita income between the US and Zambia. The Augmented Dickey-Fuller, Phillips-Perron test which accounts for serial correlation and GLS detrended augmented Dickey-Fuller test were used to test for the unit root. All tests identified unit root indicating the lack of GDP per capit...
American Journal of Economics, 2021
The ensuing assessment is on whether Zambia's persistent Least Developed Country (LDC) status... more The ensuing assessment is on whether Zambia's persistent Least Developed Country (LDC) status has a bearing on its vulnerability to the Middle Income Trap (MIT). Using an adapted unit root model, Granger causality tests were conducted to establish which variables affect Zambia's GDP per capita income level and predispose it to the MIT. Thus, per capita income, labour productivity, agriculture share to GDP, and manufacturing industry share to GDP were investigated. The results have shown that agriculture share of GDP strongly affects GDP per capita income while manufacturing share of GDP has a weaker effect on GDP per capita. The results further indicate that changes in agriculture share of GDP strongly affects the manufacturing output. Therefore, Zambia should increase investment in agriculture and manufacturing to maintain a positive GDP per capita income growth and to catalyze growth in the secondary sectors.
The ensuing assessment is on whether Zambia's persistent Least Developed Country (LDC) status has... more The ensuing assessment is on whether Zambia's persistent Least Developed Country (LDC) status has a bearing on its vulnerability to the Middle Income Trap (MIT). Using an adapted unit root model, Granger causality tests were conducted to establish which variables affect Zambia's GDP per capita income level and predispose it to the MIT. Thus, per capita income, labour productivity, agriculture share to GDP, and manufacturing industry share to GDP were investigated. The results have shown that agriculture share of GDP strongly affects GDP per capita income while manufacturing share of GDP has a weaker effect on GDP per capita. The results further indicate that changes in agriculture share of GDP strongly affects the manufacturing output. Therefore, Zambia should increase investment in agriculture and manufacturing to maintain a positive GDP per capita income growth and to catalyze growth in the secondary sectors.