Conditions of Agricultural Growth in Developing Countries (Invited Lecture)

1988 ◽  
Vol 27 (4I) ◽  
pp. 451-472
Author(s):  
Hans-Bernd Schafer
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Agricultural Production ◽  
Food Production ◽  
Agricultural Sector ◽  
Arable Land ◽  
Low Income Countries ◽  
Farm Sector ◽  
Agricultural Growth ◽  
Food Imports

Economic development is hardly possible without an increase in agricultural production. This holds especially true for the development of industry and other non-agricultural sectors. How else should a rapidly increasing population outside the agricultural sector be maintained with necessary agricultural goods? Though this is a simple truth agricultural production, especially food production increase has been far from satisfactory in many developing countries. Between 1974-76 and 1982-84 per capita food production in industrialized countries increased at a much higher rate than in developing countries and in almost 50 developing countries it has even declined during the same period. 1 Many developing countries are now heavily dependent on food imports to sustain their urban population, though they have comparative advantages to produce agricultural products. How is this defect to be explained? Technical reasons are not prevailing. Though only in Africa and South America unused arable land is available to a large extent but not in Asia, it would be possible to dramatically increase agricultural production by introducing new seed varieties, chemical fertilizer and irrigation. The main factors to hamper agricultural growth are political, social and economic. T. H. Schultz wrote in 1978: "What is needed are many Green Revolutions that would increase agricultural production throughout low income countries. They could be had, but they are presently suppressed by the lack of adequate incentives."2 In many developing countries the farm sector is exploited by the urban sector and a stream of agricultural surplus is channelled out of the farm sector to feed the nonagricultural population. Very often the prices of farm products are artificially held down.

scholarly journals Food security in the GCC: specific characteristics and solutions

2021 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 126-136
Author(s):  
Zarema R. Kodzhakova
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Agricultural Production ◽  
Food Production ◽  
Arable Land ◽  
Food Sector ◽  
Viable Option ◽  
Investment Projects ◽  
Gcc Countries ◽  
Food Imports ◽  
Do So

Food security is an issue of critical importance for GCC countries. The share of domestic agricultural production remains low, because water supplies and arable land are an extremely scarce resource in the region. These countries currently import most of what they consume and will continue to do so, since national food production is not a viable option. The study reveals the specific characteristics of the food problem of GCC countries and the ways to solve it, which can be used to ensure more optimal food imports. Special attention is paid to investment projects in the food sector of the GCC countries.

scholarly journals Linking Responsible Consumption and Production: A Global Assessment of Cropland Use for Agri-Food Production

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad Abdullah Shaikh ◽  
Michalis Hadjikakou ◽  
Ozge Geyik ◽  
Brett Bryan
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Food Production ◽  
Arable Land ◽  
National Level ◽  
Low Income Countries ◽  
Sustainable Development Goal ◽  
Development Goal ◽  
Responsible Consumption ◽  
Environmental Limits

Sustainable Development Goal 12 requires countries to achieve responsible consumption and production patterns without exceeding safe environmental limits for natural resource use. However, little is known about how cropland impacts from the agri-food sector contribute to the exceedance of national environmental limits for consumption and production. Using a multi-regional input-output model, we linked the cropland impacts of agri-food production to countries of consumption while considering the exceedance of production-based and consumption-based environmental limits. We defined national consumption-based environmental limits via the fair-share approach and quantified national production-based environmental limits according to the biophysical limit of available arable land. We then classified countries into quadrants according to their exceedance of consumption and/or production environmental limits. We found that the USA, Australia and other high-income countries were exceeding both consumption-based and production-based environmental limits. High-population but low-income countries such as India and China were within safe consumption-based environmental limits but exceeded production-based environmental limits. Brazil and other countries of the Americas incurred substantial environmental costs due to the conversion of forests into cropland to produce food for export. We identified patterns in international trade relationships that could inform national-level responsible agri-food consumption and production patterns across the global supply chain, thereby contributing to Sustainable Development Goal 12. More stringent regulations and commitments in national and international policies are required to reduce the exceedance of consumption-based and production-based environmental limits and avoid exceeding the global land-system change planetary boundary.

scholarly journals Asymmetric Trade Costs: Agricultural Trade among Developing and Developed Countries

2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jihyun Eum ◽  
Ian Sheldon ◽  
Stanley Thompson
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Agricultural Sector ◽  
Bilateral Trade ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Agricultural Trade ◽  
Trade Costs ◽  
Low Income Countries ◽  
Trade Model ◽  
Trading Partners

AbstractIn this article, the reasons why developing countries trade fewer agricultural products than developed countries are analyzed. Based on earlier findings that low trade volume in the agricultural sector is due to high trade costs, the focus is on evaluating the extent to which bilateral trade costs in the agricultural sector differ among trading partners. Using a neo-Ricardian trade model, the results show that systematically, asymmetric bilateral trade costs and variation in the level of agricultural productivity across all countries in the sample, are the main barriers to developing countries’ agricultural exports. In addition, low-income countries face higher trade costs to export than do high-income countries.

scholarly journals The Rotavirus Vaccine Landscape, an Update

Pathogens ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 520
Author(s):  
Roberto Cárcamo-Calvo ◽  
Carlos Muñoz ◽  
Javier Buesa ◽  
Jesús Rodríguez-Díaz ◽  
Roberto Gozalbo-Rovira
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Mortality Rate ◽  
Low Income ◽  
State Of The Art ◽  
The State ◽  
Cold Chain ◽  
Low Income Countries ◽  
Rotavirus Vaccine ◽  
Oral Vaccines

Rotavirus is the leading cause of severe acute childhood gastroenteritis, responsible for more than 128,500 deaths per year, mainly in low-income countries. Although the mortality rate has dropped significantly since the introduction of the first vaccines around 2006, an estimated 83,158 deaths are still preventable. The two main vaccines currently deployed, Rotarix and RotaTeq, both live oral vaccines, have been shown to be less effective in developing countries. In addition, they have been associated with a slight risk of intussusception, and the need for cold chain maintenance limits the accessibility of these vaccines to certain areas, leaving 65% of children worldwide unvaccinated and therefore unprotected. Against this backdrop, here we review the main vaccines under development and the state of the art on potential alternatives.

scholarly journals Why Do Developing Countries Tax So Little?

2014 ◽  
Vol 28 (4) ◽  
pp. 99-120 ◽  
Author(s):  
Timothy Besley ◽  
Torsten Persson
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Low Income ◽  
News Media ◽  
Weak Sense ◽  
Cultural Factors ◽  
Low Income Countries ◽  
Tax Revenue ◽  
Weak Institutions ◽  
Social And Cultural Factors ◽  
A Share

Low-income countries typically collect taxes of between 10 to 20 percent of GDP while the average for high-income countries is more like 40 percent. In order to understand taxation, economic development, and the relationships between them, we need to think about the forces that drive the development process. Poor countries are poor for certain reasons, and these reasons can also help to explain their weakness in raising tax revenue. We begin by laying out some basic relationships regarding how tax revenue as a share of GDP varies with per capita income and with the breadth of a country's tax base. We sketch a baseline model of what determines a country's tax revenue as a share of GDP. We then turn to our primary focus: why do developing countries tax so little? We begin with factors related to the economic structure of these economies. But we argue that there is also an important role for political factors, such as weak institutions, fragmented polities, and a lack of transparency due to weak news media. Moreover, sociological and cultural factors—such as a weak sense of national identity and a poor norm for compliance—may stifle the collection of tax revenue. In each case, we suggest the need for a dynamic approach that encompasses the two-way interactions between these political, social, and cultural factors and the economy.

scholarly journals Balancing production and culture: Sustainable agriculture in the Amazon

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Omar Gandarilla ◽  
Giovanni A Carosso ◽  
Mohammed A Mostajo-Radji
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Agricultural Production ◽  
Food Production ◽  
Local Communities ◽  
Sustainable Food ◽  
Sustainable Food Production ◽  
Indigenous Groups ◽  
Transgenic Seeds ◽  
The World ◽  
Single Exception

Sustainable food production in developing countries is challenging, as it requires balancing scalability with respect for local culture and traditions. Bolivia represents a particularly interesting example; with over 36 recognized indigenous groups encompassing over 70% of the country’s population in a relatively small territory, Bolivia is considered one of the most diverse countries in the world (Ferreira et al., 2019). Agriculture in Bolivia employs over 5% of the country’s population and represents over 14% of its GDP. Yet, the introduction of new agribusiness approaches has often been met with resistance by the local communities. For example, the use of transgenic seeds in Bolivia is forbidden by law, with a single exception in soybean production (Avila and Izquierdo, 2006). As result, Bolivia is at a disadvantage in relation to its neighbors in agricultural production. In addition, high costs of transport and export of produce due to the landlocked nature of the country, compounded by logistic difficulties of exporting through a third country, highlight the need of policies that facilitate a larger and more efficient food production.

International Agricultural Trade Reform and Developing Countries: The Case of the European Community

1998 ◽  
Vol 47 (3) ◽  
pp. 632-646
Author(s):  
Joseph A. McMahon
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
Developing Countries ◽  
Economic Performance ◽  
Agricultural Policy ◽  
Poverty Alleviation ◽  
Agricultural Sector ◽  
Agricultural Trade ◽  
Trade Reform ◽  
Food Imports ◽  
Sustainable Economic Growth

We are all aware that agriculture is important to developing countries as a source of income, employment and export earnings. To a far greater extent than in the OECD countries, agriculture it central to the economic performance of developing countries and the livelihood of their inhabitants. Rural societies in developing countries are directly dependent on the agricultural sector and urban dwellers rely on agriculture to provide food security and sustainable economic growth. Furthermore, many developing countries heavily rely on the export earnings or are highly dependent on food imports. Given the fact that the poorest and most threatened communities and countries are typically the most highly dependent, the resolution of pressing global agricultural policy and trade issues is critical to sustainable development and poverty alleviation.

Application of high-throughput serological tests for controlling zoonotic viral infection in Amazon rainforest and as a strategy to prevent future pandemics (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcela Santiago Pacheco De Azevedo ◽  
Daniela Gomes Ribeiro ◽  
Felipe Rocha Da Silva Santos ◽  
Siomar De Castro Soares ◽  
Vasco Ariston De Carvalho Azevedo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
High Throughput ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Dna Sequences ◽  
Scientific Information ◽  
Preventive Health Care ◽  
Amazon Rainforest ◽  
Low Income Countries ◽  
Sequencing Data ◽  
Serological Tests

UNSTRUCTURED From the bubonic plague on the 14th century to the new Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), pandemics have profoundly changed societies function. Infectious disease outbreaks are getting shorter and shorter due to our densely populated cities, global travel, and nature mass exploration. In this regard, there is a particular concern about fires occurring in Brazil's Amazon rainforest, one of the most biodiverse places on earth that facilitates cross-species transmission giving rise to the emergency of new virulent pathogens. Situation is further complicated because Amazon spans across eight developing countries with limited preventive health care services. In this perspective, this review highlights the role of new methodologies best suited for epidemiological monitoring in low-income countries, such as high-throughput serological tests. Phage immunoprecipitation sequencing (Phip-Seq), for example, can evaluate antibody-repertoire binding specificities using oligonucleotides libraries encoding epitopes covering the DNA sequences from all human pathogenic viruses or all Arboviruses already described. After incubation with an individual's serum, these libraries can be immunoprecipitated for subsequent analysis by DNA sequencing. Data are analyzed revealing peptides recognized by the antibodies present in the sample. Being a technique at a relatively low cost, its implementation in developing countries is feasible and can generate very interesting scientific information.

A Systems Approach for Sustainably Reducing Childhood Diarrheal Deaths in Developing Countries

2016 ◽  
pp. 1208-1227
Author(s):  
Monica Gray
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Systems Approach ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Low Income Countries ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Industrialized Nations ◽  
Sub Saharan

Diarrhea is the second leading cause of death and is the major cause of malnutrition in children under age 5 worldwide. More than 50 percent of the cases occur in developing countries, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia. Open defecation, substandard fecal disposal systems, and contaminated water supplies are the typical causes of diarrheal diseases. This public health crisis in low income countries mirrors the experiences of today's industrialized nations two centuries ago. The lessons learned from their sanitary evolution can be instructive in charting a sustainable path towards saving the lives of almost 2 million children annually. In this chapter a case study of Cuba's sanitary reformation is also presented to showcase successes, similar to those of developed countries, within a developing country and economically challenging context.

scholarly journals Evaluating farm-level livestock interventions in low-income countries: a scoping review of what works, how, and why

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-14
Author(s):  
Johanna F. Lindahl ◽  
Florence Mutua ◽  
Delia Grace
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Scoping Review ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Good Evidence ◽  
Low Income Countries ◽  
Livestock Products ◽  
Development Outcomes

Abstract Livestock interventions can improve nutrition, health, and economic well-being of communities. The objectives of this review were to identify and characterize livestock interventions in developing countries and to assess their effectiveness in achieving development outcomes. A scoping review, guided by a search strategy, was conducted. Papers needed to be written in English, published in peer-reviewed journals, and describe interventions in animal health and production. Out of 2739 publications systematically screened at the title, abstract, and full publication levels, 70 met our inclusion criteria and were considered in the study. Eight relatively high-quality papers were identified and added, resulting in 78 reviewed publications. Only 15 studies used randomized controlled trial designs making it possible to confidently link interventions with the resulting outcomes. Eight studies had human nutrition or health as outcomes, 11 focused on disease control, and four were on livestock production. Eight interventions were considered successful, but only four were scalable. We found good evidence that livestock-transfer programs, leveraging livestock products for nutrition, and helping farmers manage priority diseases, can improve human well-being. Our report highlights challenges in garnering evidence for livestock interventions in developing countries and provides suggestions on how to improve the quantity and quality of future evaluations.

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