Targeting poverty alleviation in priority setting for agricultural research

The current paradigm of agricultural research and extension in support of rural development in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is to disseminate improved technologies designed to increase the generally low crop yields per hectare on individual farms. Using data from a baseline survey (n = 7,539) from a large rural development programme implemented in five countries in SSA, we calculate the increases in yield per hectare required to significantly contribute to poverty alleviation for households managing such farms. We estimate the gap between current crop productivity and the productivity required to reach a poverty line of $1.90 per capita per day adjusted for Purchasing Power Parity (PPP). We find this gap to be very large, both in percentage and absolute terms. Median additional gross crop productivity required to reach this poverty threshold was: $324/ha/year (254% increase) in Mali; $1,359/ha/year (1,157% increase) in Niger; $4,989/ha/year (665% increase) in Ethiopia; $1,742/ha/year (818% increase) in Burkina Faso; $2,893/ha/year (1,297% increase) in Kenya. The required additional productivity taking account of production costs including the opportunity cost of family labor would need to be even higher. Given that (a) values of net productivity of improved rainfed crop technologies reported in the literature rarely exceed $1,000/ha/year; and (b) the majority of arable farms in SSA are two hectares or less with increasing trends toward land fragmentation, we argue that closing the yield gap among smallholder farmers in SSA will never—alone—be sufficient to meaningfully alleviate the high levels of poverty and deprivation many currently experience.

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Effect Of Trade Liberalization and Growth on Poverty and Inequity: Empirical Evidences and Policy Options

Forum penelitian Agro Ekonomi ◽

10.21082/fae.v26n2.2008.71-81 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 26 (2) ◽

pp. 71 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Wayan Reda Susila ◽

Robin Bourgeois

Keyword(s):

Trade Liberalization ◽

Poverty Alleviation ◽

Agricultural Research ◽

Differential Treatment ◽

Investment Climate ◽

Policy Options ◽

Rural Infrastructure ◽

The Pacific ◽

Agricultural Research And Development ◽

Open Markets

Indonesian Penelitian-penelitian yang menganalisis hubungan antara liberalisasi perdagangan, kemiskinan, dan pemerataan berujung pada perdebatan. Dampak dari pasar terbuka dan pengurangan kemiskinan menghasilkan pandangan yang pro (Anderson, Jha et al., dan Bhattasali et al.). dan kontra (Coller and Dollar, Twyford, Medeley, and Abbotts) secara tajam. Di sisi lain, dampak pasar terbuka terhadap distribusi pendapat bersifat lebih konklusif. Kesimpulan ini berlaku juga untuk kasus Indonesia. Dua kelompok kebijakan disintesa dari studi ini yang mencoba mensinergikan liberalisasi perdagangan dan pertumbuhan dengan kemiskinan dan pemerataan untuk wilayah Asia dan Pacific. Kelompok kebijakan pertama adalah liberalisasi perdagangan yang berpihak pada pengurangan kemiskinan yaitu 1) mengoreksi ketidak-seimbangan; 2) meninjau ulang tentang timbal-balik kebijakan; 3) perlakuan yang spesial dan berbeda serta fleksibelitas; dan 4) isu-isu perdagangan yang menjadi kepentingan khusus negara berkembang. Kelompok kebijakan kedua berkaitan dengan kebijakan domestik yang berpihak kepada orang miskin yaitu 1) memperbaiki ketidak-seimbangan penguasaan asset/lahan; 2) perbaikan infrastruktur di pedesaan; 3) menciptakan iklim investasi yang kondusif; 4) mendorong penciptaan lapangan kerja yang berpihak pada orang miskin; dan v) meningkatkan penelitian dan pengembangan bidang pertanian. English Studies assessing the link between trade liberalization, poverty and equity come up with debatable results. The effect of open markets on poverty alleviation is usually divisive between pros (Anderson, Jha, et. al., dan Bhattasali et al.) and cons (Coller and Dollar, Twyford, Medeley, and Abbotts), while effect on equity is more conclusive. These conclusions are also true for Indonesia case. Two policy insights are derived from studies review to reconcile the benefits of trade liberalization and growth with poverty alleviation and equity improvement in Asia and the Pacific. The first one relates to pro-poor trade liberalization through 1) rectifying imbalances; 2) rethinking reciprocity; 3) special and differential treatment and flexibility; and 4) trade issues of special interest to developing countries. The second is related to pro-poor domestic policies that include 1) reducing assets/land inequity, 2) promoting rural infrastructure, 3) creating conducive investment climate, 4) promoting pro-poor employment, and v) promoting agricultural research and development.

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Perspektif Global Penelitian untuk Pembangunan: Antisipasi Lingkungan Strategis dan Agenda R&D Pertanian

Forum penelitian Agro Ekonomi ◽

10.21082/fae.v30n1.2012.49-58 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 30 (1) ◽

pp. 49

Author(s):

I Wayan Rusastra

Keyword(s):

Food Security ◽

Poverty Alleviation ◽

Agricultural Development ◽

Agricultural Sector ◽

Agricultural Research ◽

Food Sovereignty ◽

Program Planning ◽

Gender Mainstreaming ◽

Global Trends ◽

Security Enhancement

English In the globalization context the perspective contribution and redefinition of agricultural sector are changing. The multifunctional roles and inclusiveness of agriculture become stronger with their ultimate goals as a source of growth and employment, food security enhancement and poverty alleviation, as well as sustaining natural resources and agricultural development. Two fundamental global trends to take into account are inter-temporal strategic environment and anticipative agricultural R&D for development. Global strategic environment consists of biofuel development, climate change, sustainable agriculture, gender mainstreaming, and food-fuel-financial crises. On the other hand, the anticipative agricultural R&D global to get more attention is international trade transparency, technology role and food demand, incentive and investment reformation, structural transformation, and the harmonization of food security and food sovereignty development. Both aspects should be adapted and synergized in the thematic program planning and priority setting of agricultural research for development. The end target is the relevancy and effectiveness of agricultural research and achievement of agricultural development. Indonesian Dalam perspektif global, telah terjadi pergeseran kontribusi dan redifinisi peran multifungsi sektor pertanian. Urgensi tentang multifungsi dan inklusifitas peran sektor pertanian semakin menguat, dengan sasaran sebagai sumber pertumbuhan dan kesempatan kerja, ketahanan pangan dan pengentasan kemiskinan, pelestarian sumberdaya dan keberlanjutan pembangunan pertanian. Dua perkembangan fundamental global yang perlu dipertimbangkan adalah dinamika lingkungan strategis dan R&D pertanian untuk pembangunan. Dinamika lingkungan strategis global mencakup pengembangan biofuel, perubahan iklim, pertanian berkelanjutan, pengarusutamaan gender, serta krisis energi, pangan, dan finansial global. Sementara itu antisipasi R&D pertanian global yang perlu dipertimbangkan adalah transparansi perdagangan, peran iptek dan kebutuhan pangan, reformasi insentif dan investasi, transformasi struktural, serta harmonisasi ketahanan pangan dan kedaulatan pangan. Kedua aspek tersebut perlu diadaptasikan dan disinergikan dalam perumusan program tematik dan penetapan skala prioritas R&D pertanian untuk pembangunan. Sasaran akhirnya adalah relevansi dan efektifitas R&D dan keberhasilan pembangunan pertanian nasional.

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