Does food aid influence agricultural development in recipient countries? A study on the relationship between food aid and agriculture production in sub-Saharan Africa

The role of food aid in hunger alleviation and poverty reduction has been examined in several studies, some resulting in positive effects and some showing little or insignificant effects. There is little empirical evidence to test whether food aid has any effect on agricultural development or whether food aid has an effect on development assistance intended for agricultural sector development. This paper examines the relationship between food aid and agricultural production in Sub-Saharan Africa, where most of the world's food aid is directed. Using data compiled from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the World Bank Development Indicators, the United Nations World Food Program (WFP), and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) the results indicate that agricultural production is positively influenced by external agricultural development assistance while food aid disbursements are negatively related to agriculture production levels.