The rural poor need to be better connected to cities and markets. Macroeconomic policies, credit instruments and crop insurance need to be made farmer-friendly. A market orientation with a focus on quality and standards would be part of this strategy. In short, agriculture should be treated as a high-value added, diversified, marketable sector – not a charity case.

Given its natural limitations, agriculture alone cannot take the region's 641 million poor people out of poverty. Therefore, a gradual transition from agriculture should complement productivity improvements – by empowering the poor, particularly women, with the skills to tap labor market opportunities and by promoting rural non-farm activities and regional growth centers.

The region's agriculture sector faces serious challenges. Without the political will to revive the sector, it will only worsen. Governments have the opportunity now to help more than 200 million people of our region escape the shackles of poverty. This opportunity should not be missed.

Noeleen Heyzer is UN under-secretary-general and Executive secretary of ESCAP, which is based in Bangkok The Korea Herald

(China Daily April 18, 2008)