Calestous Juma > Quotes

“As far as agricultural GDP is concerned, in today’s China additional investment in high-quality roads no longer has a statistically significant impact while low-quality roads are not only significant but also generate 1.57 yuan of agricultural GDP for every yuan invested. Investment in low-quality roads also generates high returns in rural nonfarm GDP. Every yuan invested in low-quality roads yields more than 5 yuan of rural nonfarm GDP. Low-quality roads also raise more poor people out of poverty per yuan invested than high-quality roads, making them a win–win strategy for growth in agriculture and poverty alleviation. In Africa, governments can learn from the Chinese experience and make sure their road programs give adequate priority to lower-quality and rural feeder roads.”
― Calestous Juma, The New Harvest: Agricultural Innovation in Africa

“The creation of agricultural enterprises represents one of the most effective ways to stimulate rural development.”
― Calestous Juma, The New Harvest: Agricultural Innovation in Africa

“control”
― Calestous Juma, The New Harvest: Agricultural Innovation in Africa

“technical trade barriers to new technologies are still used in subtle forms around the world. Fundamentally, such restrictions are intended to protect existing industries by keeping new products out of the market. The most important of such measures comes in the form of labeling requirements. These requirements are often seen as a way to protect public interest, such as consumer health or environmental well-being. It is usually difficult to distinguish between labeling requirements that seek to protect human health and those that have the underlying motive of protecting incumbent industries.”
― Calestous Juma, Innovation and Its Enemies: Why People Resist New Technologies