Does agricultural value chain development affect agricultural growth in Africa? The role of digitalization and governance

The agricultural value chain (AgricVC) is a bedrock for economic development in agriculture-driven economies.This article examines the effect of AgricVC on agricultural growth in thirty-four African countries from 1990 to 2022, focusing on digitalization and governance.Using various estimation techniques, we find that AgricVC significantly boosts agricultural growth, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa.Forward participation enhances growth, while backward participation has a negative effect.Governance and digitalization are key factors in this positive relationship.Additionally, agricultural land use and investment in agri-food processing are crucial for growth.These insights have important policy implications for agricultural development amid increasing digitalization and globalization.