Agricultural Policies for Poverty Reduction

Copublished with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)This study addresses the role of agricultural policies in raising incomes in developing countries. It sets out a strategy for raising rural incomes which emphasizes the need to create diversified rural economies with opportunities within and outside agriculture. This means adopting policies that facilitate rather than impede structural change and integrate agricultural policies within the overall mix of policies and institutional reforms that are needed. By investing in public goods, such as infrastructure and agricultural research, and by building effective social safety nets, governments can reduce the pressures related to less efficient policies such as price controls and input subsidies.