How important are the 'non-traditional' economic roles of agriculture in development?

How important are the 'non-traditional' economic roles of agriculture in development? Randy Stringer Some good reasons explain why early approaches to identifying agriculture’s economic roles resulted in a one-way strategic path that involved the flow of resources towards the industrial sector and urban centres. In an effort to provide a more comprehensive view of the roles that agriculture plays in promoting human well-being, FAO initiated the Role of Agriculture Project (ROA) to provide a new approach to poverty alleviation and socioeconomic development. The purpose of this report is to present examples, suggestions, and possible methods and tools on how to document, measure and identify the functions and values of the ‘nontraditional’ economic roles that agriculture plays in the development process. The report’s immediate aim is to provide a basis for discussion during the ‘Economic Roles of Agriculture’ session at the 19-21 March, consultation in Rome. The intent here is to provoke discussion, rather than to capture all of the issues and details that merit analysis. The paper presents examples to initiate the discussion and allow participants to add substance, refine concepts and alter, delete and adapt the analytical framework as appropriate. Six of the contributions listed in Figure 1 are outlined in some detail. Other examples may be discussed during the consultation together with those suggested by participants. The six examples are agriculture’s economic contributions: (i) to agribusiness activities not usually considered part of the agricultural sector; (ii) as social welfare infrastructure; (iii) through rapid productivity growth; (iv) to alleviating poverty; (v) to learning and education; and (vi) to healthy and safe food. The remainder of the paper suggests alternative methodologies, identifies various indicators and presents ways to measure their economic importance. Using both qualitative and quantitative methods to capture non traditional economic roles is suggested to help understand the various functions, benefits and values . A narrative approach would involve analyzing: the economic roles of agriculture in contributing to agribusiness, local trade and service firms, and the social structure of rural communities; the likely influence of new technology and economic stress on the organization and control of agricultural resources; the relative importance of agriculture in the economic base of rural areas; competition for resources between agriculture and other components of the rural economy, and the importance of off-farm employment and income for farm families. Contact author(s): Randy stringer School of Economics and Centre for International Economic Studies University of Adelaide Adelaide SA 5005 Phone + 61 8 8303 4821 [email protected] How important are the 'non-traditional' economic roles of agriculture in development?