Agricultural and Rural Development for Reducing Poverty and Hunger in Asia
In the last thirty years Asia has experienced dynamic growth and structural transformation, and has achieved substantial poverty reduction. The incidence of people living in poverty fell from more than 50 percent in the mid-1970s to 18 percent in 2004, and the incidence of hunger fell to 16 percent. However, Asia is still home to more than half of the world's poor, the majority of whom live in rural areas. Agricultural and rural development thus remains a critical component of an inclusive growth strategy for the region.
Recognizing that today's Asia faces new challenges and opportunities, the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) organized a high-level policy forum "Agricultural and Rural Development for Reducing Poverty and Hunger in Asia: In Pursuit of Inclusive and Sustainable Growth" in Manila in August 2007.
