The state of food and agriculture.

Agricultural trade and poverty : can trade work for the poor?

Can trade work for the poor? The State of Food and Agriculture 2005 examines the many ways trade and trade liberalization affect the poor and food-insecure. It is found that trade can be a catalyst for change, promoting conditions that enable the poor to raise their incomes and live longer, healthier and more productive lives. But because the poor often survive on a narrow margin, they are particularly vulnerable in any reform process, especially in the short run as productive sectors and labour markets adjust. Opening national agricultural markets to international competition - especially from subsidized competitors - before basic market institutions and infrastructure are in place can undermine the agriculture sector with long-term negative consequences for poverty and food security. Among the many important lessons from this analysis is the need for policy-makers to consider carefully how trade and complementary policies can be used to promote pro-poor growth. The report recommends a twin-track approach: investing in human capital, institutions and infrastructure to enable the poor to take advantage of trade-related opportunities, while establishing safety nets to protect vulnerable members of society
Part 1. Agricultural trade and poverty: can trade work for the poor? -- 1. Introduction and overview -- 2. Trends and patterns in international agricultural trade -- 3. The agricultural trade policy landscape -- 4. Macroeconomic impacts of agricultural trade reform -- 5. Poverty impacts of agricultural trade reforms -- 6. Trade and food security -- 7. Making trade work for the poor: the twin track approach to hunger and poverty reduction -- Part 2. World and regional review: facts and figures -- Part 3. Statistical annex.

xiii, 197 p. : ill., graphs, tables

Includes bibliographical references (p. 187-192).

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