The Effects of Human Capital on Agricultural Productivity and Farmer’s Income in Cameroon

Abstract

This study evaluates how human capital affects agricultural productivity and farmer income in Cameroon. Precisely, this study adopts methodologies that evaluate agricultural productivity, establish the stochastic frontier model and specify the returns to human capital. The database used to produce the empirical results is the Third Cameroonian Household Survey conducted by the National Institute of Statistics. Results obtained indicate that an additional year of experience and levels of education increases agricultural productivity. However, an additional year of experience squared denotes that the producer reduced his level of inefficiency. While an additional unit of education reduces the level of inefficiency, in addition, an additional year of education and years of experience squared increases farmers income. To provide a solution to the problem of food insecurity, the government should allow farmers to endow more in human capital.