Joachim von Braun International Food Policy Research Institute Beijing, September 25, 2005 Institutions and Technology for Development: on sources and policies of pro-poor growth in agriculture and the rural economy
Questions What are the evolving sources of agricultural growth? is large “beautiful” for agricultural growth? how can agricultural growth be designed to be pro-poor?
Overview I. Structure and Change in Global Agricultural Systems and Productivity - Food system change and small farms - Productivity in agriculture II. Sources of Agricultural Growth and Rural Development - Institutions - Infrastructure III. Science and Technology - Agricultural research - Information and communications technology IV. Global Scenarios’ pro- and anti-poor effects
Bifurcations of world agriculture: stylized facts Agricultural Domains DominantMarginal Farms Large assets Small assets Agro-ecologiesSustainableNon-sustainable TechnologiesUsing advanced scienceLittle connected to science Markets in which they operate IntegratedFragmented Agro-industryCompetitiveNoncompetitive People directly affectedFewMany
GROWTH RATES OF WHEAT YIELDS ANNUAL AVERAGE GROWTH in percent 1970s1980s1990s2000s* All Developing Countries Brazil China India (Source: FAOSTAT, various years) *
Total Agr. Factor Productivity Growth in China, India, USA; 1970s-1990s ChinaIndiaUSA Sources: Fan and Zhang (2002) for China; Fan, Hazell, and Thorat (1999) for India, and Ahern et al. (1998) for USA.
IMPACT model projections Progressive Policy Actions Scenario: New Focus on Agricultural Growth and Rural Development Policy Failure Scenario: Trade and Political Conflict, rise in protectionism worldwide Technology and Resource Management Failure Scenario: Adverse technology/natural resource interactions
Projected world cereal yields Source: IFPRI IMPACT projections (February 2005)
Projected world maize price Source: IFPRI IMPACT projections (February 2005)
Projected number of undernourished children, China Source: IFPRI IMPACT projections (February 2005)
Questions What are the evolving sources of agricultural growth? is large “beautiful” for agricultural growth? how can agricultural growth be designed to be pro-poor?