SOWING PROGRESS: UNRAVELING THE INTERPLAY OF AGRICULTURE AND DEVELOPMENT THROUGH LITERARY INSIGHTS

Abstract

The agricultural sector stands as a vital catalyst for development, particularly in low-income nations where it assumes a prominent role in terms of collective income and the overall labor force. Although it was a central concern for developing nations, international donors, and the global community throughout the 1960s and 1970s, agriculture receded from the development spotlight during the 1980s and 1990s, only to reemerge in the early 21st century due to negligence and inadequate investment. Recent revival of interest in addressing sectoral challenges owes much to influential reports such as the World Development Report 2008, "Agriculture for Development" by the World Bank, and "Agriculture at a Crossroads" by the IAASTD. These reports, informed by consultations involving scientists, policymakers, and donor agencies, have reignited global awareness about the plight of the agricultural sector. Amidst concurrent global crises encompassing food scarcity, climate change, and financial instability, donor nations pledged substantial funds for agricultural investment, exemplified by the G8's commitment of $22 billion in 2009. Escalating food prices in conjunction with environmental catastrophes like droughts, fires, and floods have adversely affected crop yields and food security across countries, particularly in vulnerable, economically challenged regions, deepening hunger and susceptibility to poverty. Addressing these issues entails confronting two core challenges in agriculture. The first challenge pertains to enhancing food productivity and production in developing nations, with a specific focus on Sub-Saharan Africa and smallholder farmers. Resolving this demands a comprehensive approach encompassing property rights, research and development for seeds and inputs, irrigation, fertilizers, agricultural extension, credit access, rural infrastructure, storage, and market connectivity. The second challenge revolves around the volatility of food prices, often precipitated by extraneous factors beyond the control of impoverished nations. This paper aspires to review pertinent economic literature concerning agriculture, centering on factors pivotal to augmenting agricultural productivity and mitigating poverty. The initial section of this paper delves into the multifaceted role of agriculture in the developmental trajectory, elucidating its interactions with other economic sectors. Agriculture catalyzes both income growth and poverty reduction, engendering economic opportunities and sustenance in rural areas while ensuring food affordability in urban zones. Particularly salient in low-income economies, the sector employs around 60 percent of the workforce and contributes to 25 percent of the GDP. Of the 5.5 billion inhabitants in developing countries, a staggering 3 billion reside in rural environs