Gendered dimensions of agricultural performance and infrastructure development: evidence from the southern african development community

The agricultural sector is a key driver of growth, employment, and food security, particularly in developing regions. In the Southern African Development Community (SADC), enhancing agricultural productivity has been recognised as a crucial pathway for achieving broad-based economic growth. However, gender disparities in participation and infrastructural challenges continue to limit the sector’s full potential. This study investigates the relationship between agricultural performance, infrastructure development, and the role of gender in the SADC region, employing quantile regression and fully modified least squares (FMOLS) analysis, with dynamic least squares (DOLS) regression used for robustness checks. Three models, the aggregate model, the male model, and the female model, were developed, each comprising productivity and employment equations as proxies for agricultural performance. Key findings reveal that employment increases at lower quantiles significantly reduce agricultural productivity due to labour scarcity, while higher quantiles show negligible effects. Infrastructure improvements, including access to electricity, transportation, telecommunications, and water supply, are drivers of agricultural productivity. Furthermore, human capital development, particularly among women, was found to play an important role in enhancing productivity. Encouraging greater female participation in agriculture boosts aggregate output and may help to address gender disparities. The results further show that equitable access to resources and extension services for male and female farmers directly improves agricultural performance and reduces gender inequality. These findings stress the importance of investing in infrastructure, human capital development, and gender inclusivity to promote growth and employment in the agricultural sector across the SADC.