Agricultural Transformation and Rural Development.ppt

320RK Agricultural Transformation and Rural Development “It is in the agricultural sector that the battle for long-term economic development will be won or lost.” Gunnar Myrdal Agricultural Transformation and Rural Development: Outline Integrated rural development Growth and stagnation of the agricultural sector since 1950 Characteristics of agrarian systems in Latin America, Asia, and Africa Economics of peasant subsistence agriculture and transition to commercial farming Land reform and land markets Role of women in agriculture Case Study Agricultural Transformation and Rural Development: Introduction The heavy emphasis in the past on rapid industrialization may have been misplaced Agricultural development is now seen as an important part of any development strategy Although agriculture employs the majority of the LDC labor force, it accounts for a much lower share of total output Trends in per capita food and agricultural production, 1950 -1994 Agricultural Transformation and Rural Development How can agricultural output and productivity per capita be substantially increased that will benefit the small farmer and support the urban population? What is the process by which traditional farms are transformed into commercial farms? Why do traditional farmers resist change? Are price incentives sufficient to increase output? How can rural development be achieved? Agricultural stagnation and Growth Since 1950: Output and employment, 1995 Distribution of Farms and Farmland Structure of Agrarian Systems Two kinds of world agriculture: Efficient agriculture- high labour and land productivity Inefficient agriculture- diminishing returns to labour Agricultural in Latin America, Asia, and Africa Peasant agriculture in Latin America, Asia, and Africa Latin America The Latifundio-Minifundio pattern Resource underutilization Asia Fragmentation and subdivision of peasant land in Asia Africa Extensive cultivation patterns Shifting cultivation Latifun