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Oléagineux, Corps Gras, Lipides. Volume 13, Number 4, 292-6, Juillet-Août 2006, Approche pratique : études de cas

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Author(s) : Michel Petit

Summary : In the poorest countries, agriculture is often the sector with the largest labour force and it provides the main source of incomes in rural areas wher the majority of poor people continue to live. Should these poor agricultures be protected from the rigour of competition on international markets where, in addition, prices are particularly unstable adding to food insecurity for those countries relying on those international markets to ensure a large proportion of their supplies? This question raises major controversies dominated by a priori ideological considerations. Yet rising to the world food challenge over the coming decades will undoubtedly require relying on domestic agriculture in poor countries because the economic growth of poor countries requires growth of their agriculture. Without it, poor countries wouldl not have the financial resources necessary to fund massive food imports. And this calls for forceful public policies which go well beyond border protection, including the choice of public expenditures, particularly an emphasis on agricultural research, appropriate general economic policies to ensure favourable economic incentives to farmers.

Keywords : agricultural policies, trade liberalization, least developped countries