Publication

This paper illustrates that no country has been able to sustain a rapid transition out of poverty without raising productivity in its agricultural sector, but that despite this historical role of agriculture in economic development, both the academic and donor communities lost interest in the sector in the mid-1980s. This paper explores the reasons why agriculture is back on the policy agenda for donors and poor countries alike. The author concludes that geographic coverage and operational efficiency of rural infrastructure, coupled with effective investment in modern agricultural research and extension, will determine the future role for agriculture in poverty reduction.