The major significance of this study is thus, to give the already existing dynamic CGE model the ability to better treat the livestock sector by capturing its complete natural picture through coupling of the stock–flow feature of the sector into t

The socio-economic condition in most COMESA countries is characterised by persistent high poverty levels and low food security.

Public spending is one of the most effective instruments in promoting agricultural growth and reducing poverty in developing countries. Thus, monitoring public spending in agriculture is crucial.

"This paper has been prepared in support of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Program (CAADP) roundtable in Ghana.

"Malawi has experienced modest economic growth over the last decade and a half. However, agricultural growth has been particularly erratic, and while the incidence of poverty has declined, it still remains high.

"Zambia has experienced strong economic performance since 1999. However, agriculture has not performed as well as the rest of the economy, and although the incidence of poverty has declined, it still remains high.

Public spending on agriculture needs to be traced to learn how much is being spent, where it is being spent, what it is being spent on and for whom, and how it has changed over time.

This paper proposes a simple methodology to estimate the agricultural spending that will be required to achieve the Millennium Development Goal of halving poverty by 2015 (MDG1) in 30 sub-Saharan African countries.