Hayatullah Ahmadzai
Development & Agricultural Economist Hayatullah Ahmadzai
Research Interests: Agricultural & Applied Economics, Environmental Economics, Applied Econometrics, Climate Change, Development Impact Evaluation, Sustainable Development & Agricultural Policy
Affiliation: Centre for Research in Economic Development and International Trade (CREDIT) University of Nottingham
Email: hayatullah.ahmadzai1@nottingham.ac.uk
Email: hayatullah.ahmadzai1@nottingham.ac.uk
Short Bio
I am a Visiting Research Fellow at the Centre for Research in Economic Development and International Trade (CREDIT) at the University of Nottingham, UK. As an applied research economist, my work spans multidisciplinary areas intersecting economics, agriculture, food, and the environment. My current research explores a wide range of economic and environmental problems affecting rural and farming communities, with a particular emphasis on low- and middle-income countries, agriculturally marginal areas, and indigenous communities.
I hold a PhD in Development and Agricultural Economics from the School of Economics at the University of Nottingham, UK. Additionally, I earned a masters degree in Agricultural Economics from Purdue University in Indiana USA, and a BSc in Agronomy and Soil Sciences from Kabul University, Afghanistan. My expertise includes economic modeling, particularly in evaluating the developmental impact of economic interventions and agricultural/environmental policies using quasi-experimental data. I am skilled in data collection, fieldwork, survey design, and conducting feasibility studies and economic experiments. My research often assesses ex-ante economic decisions made by various agents, such as willingness to pay, accept, or participate in adopting innovative technologies, best management practices, and adaptation strategies. I am skilled in econometric and predictive analytics, with extensive experience analyzing complex datasets using STATA, R, and SPSS.
After completing my PhD in 2019, I joined the International Center for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA) in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, as Postdoctoral Research Fellow (Socioeconomic Scientist). At ICBA, I primarily focused on developing research proposals and designing and implementing research and development projects in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), Sub-Saharan Africa, and Central Asia regions. Prior to this role, I served as a faculty member (lecturer) in the Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension at Kabul University, Afghanistan. Additionally, i worked as an Economist with the Comprehensive Agriculture and Rural Development-Facility (CARD-F), an Economic Development Program funded and implemented by the Department for International Development (DfID) and the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation, and Livestock (MAIL) to promote sustainable agriculture and rural development in Afghanistan. My research has been published in peer-reviewed journals, such as The Journal of Development Studies, PLOS ONE, Progress in Development Studies, Middle East Development Journal, and Sustainability. Additionally, I have authored policy briefs, technical reports, and contributed to book chapters.
I hold a PhD in Development and Agricultural Economics from the School of Economics at the University of Nottingham, UK. Additionally, I earned a masters degree in Agricultural Economics from Purdue University in Indiana USA, and a BSc in Agronomy and Soil Sciences from Kabul University, Afghanistan. My expertise includes economic modeling, particularly in evaluating the developmental impact of economic interventions and agricultural/environmental policies using quasi-experimental data. I am skilled in data collection, fieldwork, survey design, and conducting feasibility studies and economic experiments. My research often assesses ex-ante economic decisions made by various agents, such as willingness to pay, accept, or participate in adopting innovative technologies, best management practices, and adaptation strategies. I am skilled in econometric and predictive analytics, with extensive experience analyzing complex datasets using STATA, R, and SPSS.
After completing my PhD in 2019, I joined the International Center for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA) in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, as Postdoctoral Research Fellow (Socioeconomic Scientist). At ICBA, I primarily focused on developing research proposals and designing and implementing research and development projects in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), Sub-Saharan Africa, and Central Asia regions. Prior to this role, I served as a faculty member (lecturer) in the Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension at Kabul University, Afghanistan. Additionally, i worked as an Economist with the Comprehensive Agriculture and Rural Development-Facility (CARD-F), an Economic Development Program funded and implemented by the Department for International Development (DfID) and the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation, and Livestock (MAIL) to promote sustainable agriculture and rural development in Afghanistan. My research has been published in peer-reviewed journals, such as The Journal of Development Studies, PLOS ONE, Progress in Development Studies, Middle East Development Journal, and Sustainability. Additionally, I have authored policy briefs, technical reports, and contributed to book chapters.
Research
[a] Journal Articles (peer-reviewed)
[1] Ahmadzai H., Morissey O., 2024. Crop Diversification and Farm Household Welfare during Conflict: Afghanistan 2011-2017. The Journal of Development Studies, 1-19. doi: 10.1080/00220388.2024.2404576 [2] Ahmadzai, H. 2024. Tests for market failures and overcoming transaction costs barriers to market participation in Afghanistan. Online First. Journal of Social and Economic Development. doi: 10.1007/s40847-024-00364-2 [3] Ahmadzai, H., Tutundjian, S., Malhotra, R. 2023. Empirical Analysis of Impacts of Sand and Dust Storms on Agricultural Productivity in Mongolia. PLOS ONE 18(2): e0269271. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0269271[4] Ahmadzai, H., 2023. The Impact of Sand and Dust Storms on Agriculture Productivity in Iraq. Middle Eastern Development Journal, 15(1), 50–65. doi:10.1080/17938120.2023.2166748[5] Ahmadzai, H.; Tutundjian, S.; Elouafi, I. 2022. Polices for Sustainable Agriculture and Livelihood in Marginal Lands: A review, Sustainability, 13(16) 8692. doi: 10.3390/su13168692[6] Talabi, A, Vikram, P, Thushar, S, Hifzurrahman, R, Ahmadzai, H., Nhamo, N, Shahid, M, Singh, R., 2022. Orphan Crops: A Best Fit for Dietary Enrichment and Diversificationn Highly Deteriorated Marginal Environments. Frontiers in Plant Science, 13:839704. doi:10.3389/fpls.2022.839704[7] Ahmadzai, H., 2021. Hope for Change: Is Diversifying Production Portfolios an Ideal Strategy to Boost Farming Efficiency in Afghanistan?. Progress in Development Studies, 21(3), 1-25. doi: 10.1177/14649934211031745[8] Hirich, A.; Rafik, S.; Rahmani, M.; Amira, F.; Azaykou,F.; Filali, K.; Ahmadzai H.; Jnaoui,Y.; Soulaimani, A.; Moussafir, M.; et al., 2021. Development of quinoa value chain to improve food and nutritional security in rural communities in Rehamna, Morocco: lessons learned and perspectives. Plants 10(2), 301. doi: 10.3390/plants10020301[9] Ahmadzai, H., 2020. How is Off -farm Income Linked to On-farm Diversification? Evidence from Afghanistan Studies in Agricultural Economics, Studies in Agricultural Economics, 122 (1), 1–12. doi.org/10.7896/j.2010.[10] Ahmadzai, H., 2020. Trends in Quinoa Adoption in Marginal Areas, Economic Viability, and Policy Outlook, Journal of Agribusiness and Rural Development 57 (3), 235–247. doi: 10.17306/J.JARD.2020.01351
[b] Book Chapters
[1] Azam-Ali, S., Ahmadzai, H., Choudhury, D., Goh, E.V., Jahanshiri, E., Mabhaudhi, T., Meschinelli, A., Modi, A.T., Nhamo, N., Olutayo, A., 2023. Marginal Areas and Indigenous People Priorities for Research and Action, in: von Braun, J., Afsana, K., Fresco, L.O., Hassan, M.H.A. (Eds.), Science and Innovations for Food Systems Transformation. Springer International Publishing, Cham, pp. 261–279. doi: 10.1007/978-3-031-15703-5_14[2] Lyra D., Ahmadzai H., et al. 2021. From Desert Farm to Fork: Value Chain Development for Innovative Salicornia-based Food Products–A Case Study in the United Arab. In: Saline futures: state-of-the-art in saline agriculture. Routledge Taylor & Francis Group. doi: 10.1201/9781003112327-11
[c] Published Research Papers
[1] Ahmadzai H. (2018). Tests for Separability and Factor Market Participation in Afghanistan. School of Economics, UoN, CREDIT Research Paper, NO. 18/10. The University of Nottingham, Centre for Research in Economic Development and International Trade (CREDIT): Nottingham, UK, 2018.[2] Ahmadzai, H. (2017). Crop Diversification and Technical Efficiency in Afghanistan: Stochastic Frontier Analysis. School of Economics, UoN, CREDIT Research Paper, No. 17/04. The University of Nottingham, Centre for Research in Economic Development and International Trade (CREDIT): Nottingham, UK, 2017.[3] Ahmadzai, H. (2017). Status, Patterns, and Microeconomics Drivers of the Extent of Diversity in Crop Production: Evidence from Afghanistan. School of Economics, UoN, CREDIT Research Paper, No. 17/07. The University of Nottingham, Centre for Research in Economic Development and International Trade (CREDIT): Nottingham, UK, 2017.
[d] Policy Papers
[1] Ahmadzai, H., Tutundjian, S., Dale, D., Brathwaite, R., Lidderr, P., Selvaraju, R., Malhotra, A., Boerger, V. & Elouafi, I. 2022. Marginal lands: potential for agricultural development, food security and poverty reduction. SOLAW21 Technical background report. Rome, FAO. doi.org/10.4060/cc2838en[2] Sayed A., Ahmadzai H., Choudhury D., Goh E., Jahanshiri, E., Mabhaudhi T., Meschinelli A., Thembinkos A., Nhamo N., Talabi A., 2021. Marginal areas and indigenous people Priorities for research and action. Food Systems Summit Brief prepared by Research Partners of the Scientific Group for the Food Systems Summit 2021. doi.org/10.48565/fd4f-rk35[3] Ahmadzai H., 2021. Regional Policies for Combating Sand and Dust Storms in Northeast and West Asia : A Policy Brief (download pdf)[4] Ahmadzai, H.(2022). Addressing sand and dust storms in Northeast (China and Mongolia) and Western Asia(Iran, Iraq, and Kuwait), and North Africa (Algeria): An agricultural prospective.
[e] Working Papers/Manuscript under Review
[1] Ahmadzai H., Morissey O., 2024. Climate shocks, household food security and welfare in Afghanistan. CREDIT Research Paper, No. 24/04. The University of Nottingham, Centre for Research in Economic Development and International Trade (CREDIT): Nottingham, UK, 2024. Under review in Food Policy.[2] Ahmadzai H., Morissey O., 2023. Crop Diversification and Farm Household Welfare during Conflict: Afghanistan 2011-2017. CREDIT Research Paper, No. 23/01. The University of Nottingham, Centre for Research in Economic Development and International Trade (CREDIT): Nottingham, UK, 2023. Forthcoming in The Journal of Development Studies (JDS).
[f] Dissertations
[1] Ahmadzai, Hayatullah (2019) Development and diversification of small-scale agriculture in Afghanistan. PhD thesis, University of Nottingham. [2] Ahmadzai, H., 2011. On-farm Grain Storage Losses: Potential Gains from Improved Storage Facility and Management Practices in Afghanistan. Master’s Thesis, Purdue University.
[1] Ahmadzai H., Morissey O., 2024. Crop Diversification and Farm Household Welfare during Conflict: Afghanistan 2011-2017. The Journal of Development Studies, 1-19. doi: 10.1080/00220388.2024.2404576 [2] Ahmadzai, H. 2024. Tests for market failures and overcoming transaction costs barriers to market participation in Afghanistan. Online First. Journal of Social and Economic Development. doi: 10.1007/s40847-024-00364-2 [3] Ahmadzai, H., Tutundjian, S., Malhotra, R. 2023. Empirical Analysis of Impacts of Sand and Dust Storms on Agricultural Productivity in Mongolia. PLOS ONE 18(2): e0269271. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0269271[4] Ahmadzai, H., 2023. The Impact of Sand and Dust Storms on Agriculture Productivity in Iraq. Middle Eastern Development Journal, 15(1), 50–65. doi:10.1080/17938120.2023.2166748[5] Ahmadzai, H.; Tutundjian, S.; Elouafi, I. 2022. Polices for Sustainable Agriculture and Livelihood in Marginal Lands: A review, Sustainability, 13(16) 8692. doi: 10.3390/su13168692[6] Talabi, A, Vikram, P, Thushar, S, Hifzurrahman, R, Ahmadzai, H., Nhamo, N, Shahid, M, Singh, R., 2022. Orphan Crops: A Best Fit for Dietary Enrichment and Diversificationn Highly Deteriorated Marginal Environments. Frontiers in Plant Science, 13:839704. doi:10.3389/fpls.2022.839704[7] Ahmadzai, H., 2021. Hope for Change: Is Diversifying Production Portfolios an Ideal Strategy to Boost Farming Efficiency in Afghanistan?. Progress in Development Studies, 21(3), 1-25. doi: 10.1177/14649934211031745[8] Hirich, A.; Rafik, S.; Rahmani, M.; Amira, F.; Azaykou,F.; Filali, K.; Ahmadzai H.; Jnaoui,Y.; Soulaimani, A.; Moussafir, M.; et al., 2021. Development of quinoa value chain to improve food and nutritional security in rural communities in Rehamna, Morocco: lessons learned and perspectives. Plants 10(2), 301. doi: 10.3390/plants10020301[9] Ahmadzai, H., 2020. How is Off -farm Income Linked to On-farm Diversification? Evidence from Afghanistan Studies in Agricultural Economics, Studies in Agricultural Economics, 122 (1), 1–12. doi.org/10.7896/j.2010.[10] Ahmadzai, H., 2020. Trends in Quinoa Adoption in Marginal Areas, Economic Viability, and Policy Outlook, Journal of Agribusiness and Rural Development 57 (3), 235–247. doi: 10.17306/J.JARD.2020.01351
[b] Book Chapters
[1] Azam-Ali, S., Ahmadzai, H., Choudhury, D., Goh, E.V., Jahanshiri, E., Mabhaudhi, T., Meschinelli, A., Modi, A.T., Nhamo, N., Olutayo, A., 2023. Marginal Areas and Indigenous People Priorities for Research and Action, in: von Braun, J., Afsana, K., Fresco, L.O., Hassan, M.H.A. (Eds.), Science and Innovations for Food Systems Transformation. Springer International Publishing, Cham, pp. 261–279. doi: 10.1007/978-3-031-15703-5_14[2] Lyra D., Ahmadzai H., et al. 2021. From Desert Farm to Fork: Value Chain Development for Innovative Salicornia-based Food Products–A Case Study in the United Arab. In: Saline futures: state-of-the-art in saline agriculture. Routledge Taylor & Francis Group. doi: 10.1201/9781003112327-11
[c] Published Research Papers
[1] Ahmadzai H. (2018). Tests for Separability and Factor Market Participation in Afghanistan. School of Economics, UoN, CREDIT Research Paper, NO. 18/10. The University of Nottingham, Centre for Research in Economic Development and International Trade (CREDIT): Nottingham, UK, 2018.[2] Ahmadzai, H. (2017). Crop Diversification and Technical Efficiency in Afghanistan: Stochastic Frontier Analysis. School of Economics, UoN, CREDIT Research Paper, No. 17/04. The University of Nottingham, Centre for Research in Economic Development and International Trade (CREDIT): Nottingham, UK, 2017.[3] Ahmadzai, H. (2017). Status, Patterns, and Microeconomics Drivers of the Extent of Diversity in Crop Production: Evidence from Afghanistan. School of Economics, UoN, CREDIT Research Paper, No. 17/07. The University of Nottingham, Centre for Research in Economic Development and International Trade (CREDIT): Nottingham, UK, 2017.
[d] Policy Papers
[1] Ahmadzai, H., Tutundjian, S., Dale, D., Brathwaite, R., Lidderr, P., Selvaraju, R., Malhotra, A., Boerger, V. & Elouafi, I. 2022. Marginal lands: potential for agricultural development, food security and poverty reduction. SOLAW21 Technical background report. Rome, FAO. doi.org/10.4060/cc2838en[2] Sayed A., Ahmadzai H., Choudhury D., Goh E., Jahanshiri, E., Mabhaudhi T., Meschinelli A., Thembinkos A., Nhamo N., Talabi A., 2021. Marginal areas and indigenous people Priorities for research and action. Food Systems Summit Brief prepared by Research Partners of the Scientific Group for the Food Systems Summit 2021. doi.org/10.48565/fd4f-rk35[3] Ahmadzai H., 2021. Regional Policies for Combating Sand and Dust Storms in Northeast and West Asia : A Policy Brief (download pdf)[4] Ahmadzai, H.(2022). Addressing sand and dust storms in Northeast (China and Mongolia) and Western Asia(Iran, Iraq, and Kuwait), and North Africa (Algeria): An agricultural prospective.
[e] Working Papers/Manuscript under Review
[1] Ahmadzai H., Morissey O., 2024. Climate shocks, household food security and welfare in Afghanistan. CREDIT Research Paper, No. 24/04. The University of Nottingham, Centre for Research in Economic Development and International Trade (CREDIT): Nottingham, UK, 2024. Under review in Food Policy.[2] Ahmadzai H., Morissey O., 2023. Crop Diversification and Farm Household Welfare during Conflict: Afghanistan 2011-2017. CREDIT Research Paper, No. 23/01. The University of Nottingham, Centre for Research in Economic Development and International Trade (CREDIT): Nottingham, UK, 2023. Forthcoming in The Journal of Development Studies (JDS).
[f] Dissertations
[1] Ahmadzai, Hayatullah (2019) Development and diversification of small-scale agriculture in Afghanistan. PhD thesis, University of Nottingham. [2] Ahmadzai, H., 2011. On-farm Grain Storage Losses: Potential Gains from Improved Storage Facility and Management Practices in Afghanistan. Master’s Thesis, Purdue University.
Contact Info
Centre for Research in Economic Development and International Trade (CREDIT)University of NottinghamNottingham, NG7 2RD, UKhayatullah.ahmadzai1@nottingham.ac.uk ahmadzaihayat@outlook.com +44 (0) 777 416 7116