Biotech Updates

Agriculture Still Crucial in Africa Development

August 17, 2007

Agricultural growth will continue to play an important  role in promoting overall economic growth and reducing poverty in most of Africa's agrarian-based economies. This was the gist of a research report  "The role of agriculture in development: Implications for sub-Saharan Africa" published by the International Food Policy Research  Institute (IFPRI). 

Xinshen Diao, IFPRI senior research fellow, and his colleagues contend that only smallholder food-staple and livestock production can generate broadbased agricultural growth. He called for greater public sector involvement in the short term, and to meet the challenge for new institutional arrangements between the public and private sectors that foster private sector development withut neglecting smallholder farmers.

The full report can be downloaded at http://www.ifpri.org/pubs/abstract/rr153.asp.