1 AIT Asian Institute of Technology

Problems and prospects for sustainable agricultural development in Less Developed Countries

AuthorMaskey, Rabi Kiran
Call NumberAIT SSPR no. HS-92-03
Subject(s)Sustainable agriculture--Developing countries

NoteA special study submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the award of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, School of Engineering and Technology
PublisherAsian Institute of Technology
Series StatementSpecial studies project report ; no. HS-92-03
AbstractIncreasing pressure of population growth and degradation of natural resources in the LDCs have made the establishment and maintenance of more productive yet sustainable agricultural systems ever more necessary. This is particularly true for resource-poor farmers who make up the majority of the population in LDCs. These farmers cannot afford even low-input technology for improving the productivity of traditional varieties under rather unfavorable environmental conditions. This is why even the Green Revolution has had negative effects for these farmers who usually operate on low-productivity, marginal land thus causing environmental damage entailing long-term losses. New approaches are needed to help these farmers without which there will be no development in the real sense in these countries. Many critical sustainable agriculture issues are related to population growth, poverty and inappropriate agricultural policies. They all place unprecedented pressure on land, forest, water and other natural resources. It is recognized that poverty, environmental degradation and population growth are all related to each other. None of these problems can be solved in isolation. There is a need for a range of agricultural and agriculture related policies, strategies and activities that can maintain the agricultural production or even improve it on a sustainable basis suitable for resource-poor farmers. Government policies should play an important role in the allocation of resources and products to the agricultural sector in favor of resource-poor farmers and to sustain their agricultural systems. Altering input and output pricing, exchange rate modification, and tax and subsidy reforms in favor of resource-poor farmers can be justified on the ground that they help in internalizing the externalities of an economy. Policies favoring land conservation and management of the natural resource base can certainly ensure sustainable and secure livelihoods for future generations. Moreover, governments should pursue land policies providing incentives to resource-poor farmers. Appropriate technologies for sound agricultural development, although known to some extent, need to be further advanced and modified to fit local condition. Research in the field of agriculture can play a very important role in this regard, in which research should be "farmer centered". This should include the recognition of the holistic nature of farming systems, the resolve for multi-disciplinary analysis and the appreciation of the importance of on-farm research work. There should be no doubt that sustainable agricultural development is an achievable goal. For this, it is necessary for LDCs to make agricultural sustainability a major goal of the country's economic development planning.
Year1992
Corresponding Series Added EntryAsian Institute of Technology. Special studies project report ; no. HS-92-03
TypeSpecial Study Project Report (SSPR)
SchoolSchool of Engineering and Technology (SET)
DepartmentOther Field of Studies (No Department)
Academic Program/FoSHuman Settlement (HS)
Chairperson(s)Weber, Karl E. ;Routray, Jayant Kumar
DegreeSpecial Studies Project Report (M. Sc.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 1992


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