Agriculture

AGRICULTURE SERVES as a major source of income for nearly 49 percent of the world population. Fifty-five out of 147 countries identified by the World Bank for World Development Indicators are predominantly agri-culture-based economies, with 25 of them having three-fourths of their population eking out a living on farms—and these, interestingly, are located mostly in sub-Saharan Africa and southeast Asia. It is disheartening to note that majorities of the people bearing the brunt of abject poverty (living below poverty line) are members of the farming community worldwide, which underlines the importance of agriculture development in uplifting people from poverty. Agriculture and poverty are closely interrelated. And that agriculture forms the backbone of the economy is well-known.

Perhaps nowhere is the link between agriculture and poverty more apparent than in the Third World. Out of the 55 predominantly agriculture-based nations (where [Page 18]more than half of the population depends on agriculture for living) only 18 (Albania, Cambodia, Central African Republic, Ethiopia, Sierra Leone, etc.) are earning a sizeable chunk of foreign exchange from agriculture. Added to that, only 10 countries in the segment (Burundi, Congo Democratic Republic, Guinea Bissau, Laos, Myanmar, etc.) have agriculture contributing to more than 50 percent of their Gross Domestic Product (GDP). It is regrettable to note that in a majority of the agricultural economies, the annual growth rate of agriculture remains much below that of industry, manufacturing, and service sectors.

According to United Nations projections, the world population is expected to exceed 8.0 billion by 2025. On average, 73 million people will be added annually, and 97 percent of the projected growth will take place in the developing countries. Nearly 1.2 billion people live in a state of absolute poverty. About 800 million people are food insecure, and 160 million preschool children suffer from malnutrition. A large number of people also suffer from deficiencies of micronutrients such as iron and vitamin A. Food insecurity and malnutrition result in serious public health problems and lost human potential in developing countries. The major problems faced by the rural poor include low productivity, food insecurity, and poor nutrition.

The availability of land is decreasing over time, and such a decrease is expected to be much greater in the developing countries than in developed countries especially in Asia. Grain production has shown a remarkable increase between 1950 and 1980, while a marginal increase was recorded between 1980 and 1990. There is a need to increase production foods to meet the demands of increasing population.

The south Asian region is home to the largest number of poor people in the world. Nearly one-third of all malnourished people in the world live in this region and they need access to affordable and nutritious food. Food security is a critical concern in south Asia, especially against the current background of rapid population growth. The resource-poor, small-scale farmers, who contribute substantially to food production in this region, need to be empowered with appropriate technologies to enhance sustainable agricultural productivity and production.