Transforming agrarian economies

About this book

The world's 58 poorest countries share the characteristic of a labor force overwhelmingly dependent on agriculture. Challenging the assumption that mass poverty and chronic hunger are unsolvable problems, this book systematically explores the multiple aspects of economic development in these countries, which are home to 60 percent of the world's population. The authors offer a broad-based development strategy to raise incomes through agricultural productivity growth and expanded rural employment. They present rich new information on the rural informal sector and on agriculture-industry interactions, and they analyze the impact of macroeconomic and social policies on the rural economy. Policy instruments aimed at bringing about broad-based development are carefully assessed - from fiscal policy to development of new seeds and farm implements. The book includes detailed case studies of countries that have seized - or missed - development opportunities.