Why was agriculture less productive in sub-saharan africa than it was in the Middle east?

Women and agriculture in Sub-Saharan Africa refers to the agricultural system in Sub-Saharan Africa that is predominantly small-scale farming system with more than 50% of the agricultural activity performed by women, producing about 60-70% of the food in this region. While women provide the majority of the labor in agricultural production, their access and control over productive resources is greatly constrained due to inequalities constructed by patriarchal norms.