Agricultural Transformation in Asia: Experiences and Emerging Challenges

Agriculture plays a key role in economic development, alleviating poverty and malnutrition, especially the early stages of agricultural development. Several studies have demonstrated that neglecting agriculture, at industrialization, can disrupt process transformation. This paper reviews transformation Asia through framework proposed by Timmer (1988). It finds has followed uniform pattern with unique characteristics each stage. Moreover, public sector been instrumental facilitating guiding Emerging challenges agri-food prompted some countries to promote more inclusive integrated approach rural system The next phase transformation—pioneered Japan, Republic Korea (South Korea), China—seems relevant most elsewhere. In all three countries, state is highly terms policy, strategy, incentives, resources. However, there insufficient evidence assess efficacy transformative initiatives dubbed as “6th industrialization agriculture.”