Agriculture and Renewable Natural Resources

Renewable natural resources (including forests and aquatic resources) and agriculture (RNRA) are fundamental to reducing poverty. Accelerated agricultural growth, based on increasing land and labour productivity, has been the cornerstone of successful poverty reduction throughout history. With increasing productivity, millions of poor people will benefit through cheaper food and higher rural incomes. Agricultural growth also stimulates economic diversification to other activities where growth is generally faster and labour productivity and wages are higher. It is widely accepted that growth in other sectors cannot match agriculture in achieving broad based poverty reduction and stimulating wider economic growth.

The DFID Renewable Natural Resources and Agriculture (RNRA) team works to improve understanding within DFID and development partners of what is needed to transform agriculture/natural resources based livelihoods and establish improved conditions at the international, regional and national levels for agricultural/ natural resource based growth in developing countries. The RNRA team is part of the Growth and Investment Group.

This Hot Topic shares knowledge, experiences and lessons in relation to these objectives to encourage debate and stimulate change. Contributions and comments from all our users are welcomed.

The Role of the State and Markets - how to stimulate and nurture the development of an exchange economy that promotes agricultural growth; how to improve the extent and terms of access to and beneficial participation in markets for the poor?