The Impact of Research Led Agricultural Productivity Growth on Poverty Reduction in Africa, Asia and Latin America

17 Pages Posted: 22 Feb 2014

See all articles by Colin G Thirtle

Colin G Thirtle

Imperial College London

Lin Lin

National Chi Nan University

Jenifer Piesse

University of Stellbosch; King's College London - Department of Management

Date Written: December 1, 2003

Abstract

Twenty percent of the world population, or 1.2 billion live on less than $1 per day; 70% of these are rural and 90% in Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa. Research led technological change in agriculture generates sufficient productivity growth to give high rates of return in Africa and Asia and has a substantial impact on poverty, currently reducing this number by 27 million per annum, whereas productivity growth in industry and services has no impact. The per capita “cost” of poverty reduction by means of agricultural research expenditures in Africa is $144 and in Asia $180, or 50 cents per day, but this is covered by output growth. By contrast, the per capita cost for the richer countries of Latin America is over $11,000.

Suggested Citation

Thirtle, Colin G and Lin, Lin and Piesse, Jenifer, The Impact of Research Led Agricultural Productivity Growth on Poverty Reduction in Africa, Asia and Latin America (December 1, 2003). World Development, Vol. 31, No. 12, 2003, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2399480

Colin G Thirtle (Contact Author)

Imperial College London ( email )

United Kingdom

Lin Lin

National Chi Nan University ( email )

Taiwan
China

Jenifer Piesse

University of Stellbosch

Stellenbosch, Western Cape
South Africa

King's College London - Department of Management ( email )

Virginia Woolf Building
22 Kingsway
London, England WC2B 6NR
United Kingdom

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