The State of Food and Agriculture 2005
Agriculture Trade and Poverty - Can Trade Work for the Poor?
The report examines the many ways in which trade liberalization and agricultural trade affect the poor and food-insecure. Trade can be a catalyst for change, promoting conditions that enable the poor to raise their incomes and live longer, healthier and more productive lives, but these positive results are not guaranteed. The poor are particularly vulnerable in any reform process, especially in the short run as productive sectors and labour markets adjust. Complementary policy measures are needed to enable the poor to take advantage of the opportunities offered by trade, and safety nets are required to protect the most vulnerable from trade-related shocks.
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