ASSESSING THE BENEFITS OF RESEARCH EXPENDITURES ON MAIZE PRODUCTION IN SOUTH AFRICA / RAMING VAN DIE VOORDELE VAN NAVORSINGSBESTEDINGS OP MIELIEPRODUKSIE IN SUID-AFRIKA

Abstract

This paper focuses on assessing the benefits of research expenditures on maize production in South Africa. Both the production and supply function approaches are used to calculate elasticities of research expenditure on output and yield. Cointegration is used to establish long-run relationships between variables in these models. The lag structure of R&D expenditures on output is examined making use of the unrestricted, polynomial, beta and gamma distributions. The coefficients of these lag distributions were then used to calculate a rate of return to maize research expenditure, which was estimated as being between 28% and 39% per annum. These rates of return are high, mitigating in favour of more research expenditure rather than less.

Hierdie referaat is gefokus op 'n raming van die voordele van navorsingsbestedings op mielieproduksie in Suid-Afrika. Beide die produksie- en aanbodfunksiebenaderings word gebruik om elastisiteite van navorsingsbesteding op produksie en opbrengs te bereken. Ko-integrasie word gebruik om langtermyn verhoudings tussen veranderlikes in hierdie modelle te bepaal. Die sloerstruktuur van N & O bestedings op produksie word ondersoek deur die onbegrensde, polinomiale, beta- en gammaverdelings te gebruik. Die koëffisiënte van hierdie sloerverdelings is daarna gebruik om 'n opbrengskoers vir mielienavorsingsbesteding, wat beraam is as tussen 28% en 39% per jaar, te bereken. Hierdie koerse is hoog en begunstig groter, eerder as kleiner navorsingbesteding.