Integrating renewable energies into the agricultural sector in sub-saharan Africa: driving productivity or green illusion?

This article examines the effect of renewable energy-powered agrotechnologies on agricultural productivity in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Although the literature recognizes the positive effects of agricultural technologies on productivity and the environment, few studies have conducted econometric analyses of the energy sources used and their suitability for local conditions. Using a panel of 40 countries over the period 1995–2023, the study employs the generalized method of moments (GMM) in difference and the Dumitrescu and Hurlin causality test to establish this relationship. The results show that the use of renewable energy-based agricultural technologies has a significant and positive effect on agricultural productivity. To test the robustness of the results, two complementary approaches are used. On the one hand, panel quantile regression highlighted variations in this relationship according to levels of agricultural productivity. On the other hand, the causality test highlighted bidirectional relationships between agricultural productivity and several key variables: renewable energy consumption, arable land, labor, foreign direct investment (FDI), forestry income, and nitrous oxide emissions. However, a unidirectional causality was observed with fertilizer consumption. These findings reveal a lack of coordination in sustainable agricultural policies in SSA, despite commitments to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The study therefore recommends strategically strengthening the adoption of renewable energy-based agrotechnologies to stimulate more sustainable agricultural growth.