Food, Agriculture, and the Environment Discussion Paper 34
Agricultural Research and Poverty Reduction
Peter Hazell and Lawrence Haddad
International Food Policy Research Institute
2033 K Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20006 U.S.A.
August 2001
INTERNATIONAL FOOD POLICY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
ON INTERNATIONAL AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH
TECHNICAL ADVISORY GROUP (TAC), CONSULTATIVE GROUP
Copyright © 2001 International Food Policy
Research Institute
All rights reserved. Sections of this report may be reproduced without the express permission of but with acknowledgment to the International Food
Policy Research Institute.
ISBN 0-89629-639-3
Foreword v
Acknowledgments vi
1. Introduction 1
2. The Nature and Extent of Poverty 3
3. How Agricultural Research Can Help the Poor 9
4. Targeting Agricultural Research to Benefit the Poor 18
5. Strategies for Pro-Poor Agricultural Research 26
6. The Role of Public Research and Extension Systems 35
References 37
Contents
iii
Tables
1. Trends in child malnutrition in developing countries, by region, 1970–95 6
2. Distribution of land types by region 6
3. Distribution of malnourished children by agroecological zone, 1990 7
4. Comparison of low- and middle-income countries 21
5. Priorities for agricultural research to reduce national poverty by type of adopting region 24
Figures
1. Number of people living on less than $1 a day, 1987 and 1998 4
2. Those living with HIV/AIDS and those newly infected: Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa 5
3. Food price trends in Bangladesh, 1973–96 15
4. Relationships between GNP per capita and population growth, agriculture’s share in GNP, and urbanization in low- and middle-income countries 22
5. Links between property rights, collective action, and technology adoption 28 iv International agricultural research has contributed enormously to increasing world food supplies to their