In a new report, the World Bank says agriculture is essential to reducing poverty and spurring growth. The World Development Report 2008 notes three-quarters of all poor people live in rural areas and rely on farming and related activities for their livelihoods. It calls for more investment in this sector. Lisa Schlein was at the launch of the report in Geneva and has this report for VOA.
The World Bank reports three out of every four poor people in developing countries live in rural areas, and most of them depend directly or indirectly on agriculture for their livelihoods.
The World Development Report argues there must be a renewed emphasis on agriculture and increased investments in the rural sector if the Millennium Development Goals of cutting poverty and hunger in half by 2015 are to be met.