The Contribution of Agricultural Production on Selected Sustainable Development Goals in the Brics: A Panel Analysis

Abstract

Does agriculture contribute to Sustainable Development Goals in the BRICS countries? This question remains one of the unanswered questions in the academic arena. Thus, an examination of this question is crucial. Accordingly, the objectives of the study are twofold. The first objective was to examine the contribution of agriculture on economic growth in the BRICS bloc. The second objective was to investigate the contribution of agriculture on income inequality. The study employed Pooled Mean Group over a period 1995-2018 and found that agriculture production contributes to economic growth and reduces income inequality in the BRICS countries. All the variables met the expected priori and the study confirmed that all the disequilibrium in the shortrun could be corrected in the long-run. Therefore, the BRICS government should strengthen the agricultural sector since it is one of its strongholds sector.

Agricultural Value Added in BRICS: A Panel Data Study

“…Brazil and Russia lead in agricultural production for domestic and international consumption; Brazil have a comparative advantage in crop and livestock production, while Russia has on barley, wheat, potatoes, sunflower seeds and oats; China has a comparative advantage in fish, India and South Africa compliment their comparative advantage in beef, goats and milk production (FAO, 2019). The gaps in their comparative advantage in foodstuffs are filled through inter-BRICS trade (Garidzirai, 2020).…”