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Rural Development and Poverty Reduction; Is Agriculture Still the Key?

Author

Listed:
  • Gustavo Anríquez

    (Agricultural and Development Economics Division, Food and Agriculture Organization)

  • Kostas Stamoulis

    (Agricultural and Development Economics Division, Food and Agriculture Organization)

Abstract

This paper examines the relationship between rurality and poverty, and the role the agricultural sector can play in rural development, poverty reduction, and overall development. The historical views regarding the role of the primary sector in development are presented, and then using original data, the paper argues that there was an historical misjudgment against the primary sector that served as a foundation for anti-agricultural bias in public policy until the late 80’s. Finally, this paper explains how under certain conditions territorial/regional development strategies may prosper, but in other conditions, particularly in the least-developed countries rural space, agriculture is still necessarily the starting point for rural development.

Suggested Citation

  • Gustavo Anríquez & Kostas Stamoulis, 2007. "Rural Development and Poverty Reduction; Is Agriculture Still the Key?," Working Papers 07-02, Agricultural and Development Economics Division of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO - ESA).
    • Handle: RePEc:fao:wpaper:0702
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    rural development; agricultural growth; poverty reduction; production linkages.;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • Q10 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Agriculture - - - General
    • O10 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - General
    • O13 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Agriculture; Natural Resources; Environment; Other Primary Products

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