Ifad rural poverty

Rural Poverty

Rural Poverty The largest segment of the world's poor are the women, children and men who live in rural environments. These are the subsistence farmers and herders, the fishers and migrant workers, the artisans and indigenous peoples whose daily struggles seldom capture world attention.

Rural Poverty Empowering rural people is an essential first step to eradicating poverty. It respects the willingness and capability that each of us has to take charge of our own life and to seek out opportunities to make it better.

The State of Rural Poverty The Rural Poverty Report 2011, a comprehensive study presented by the International Fund for Agricultural Development, shows: Despite improvements over the past 10 years that have lifted more than 350 million rural people out of extreme poverty, global poverty remains a massive and predominantly rural phenomenon – with 70 per cent of the developing world’s 1.4 billion extremely poor people living in rural areas.

The State of Rural Poverty The Report furthermore says that, during the past decade, the overall rate of extreme poverty in rural areas of developing countries – people living on less than US$1.25 a day – has dropped from 48 per cent to 34 per cent. Dramatic gains in East Asia, particularly China, account for much of the decline.

The Rural Population The population of the developing world is still more rural than urban: some 3.1 billion people, or 55 per cent of the total population, live in rural areas. However between 2020 and 2025, the total rural population will peak and then start to decline, and the developing world’s urban population will overtake its rural population.

Millions of people

 Rural population trends

1600 1400 1200 1000 800 600 400 200

2050

2045

2040

2035

2030

2025

2020

2015

2010

2005

2000

1995

1990

1985

1980

1975

1970

1965

1960

1955

1950

0

Series 11

Rural  Sub‐Sa ha ran Africa

Rura l South a nd Centra l  As ia

Rural  Latin America  and the Caribbean

Rura l Middle Eas t a nd North Africa

Rural  Eas t a nd South Eas t As ia

Series 17

Pea k Rura l Population SSA

Pea k Rura l  Population  SCA

Pea k Rura l Population LAC

Pea k Rura l  Population ESEA

Pea k Rura l Population MENA

Source: Rural Poverty Report 2011, International Fund for Agricultural Development

The Rural Poor “[Poverty] means the person is stuck. You cannot go anywhere or do anything to get out of the situation. You are not in a mood to rejoice, You can get rough with your children. You fear the future.” Abibatou Goudiaby, female, 21 years, Senegal “Every year, prices become higher. For example, the price of a butter plate (about 0.5 kilograms) was six pounds ten years ago. Today, the price reached forty pounds. After all, the income is limited. You can see we are now destitute. We do not feel secure.” Imbrahiem Abo Zeid, male, 55 years, Egypt “… I cannot get a job because this education is insufficient. These days even matriculates are not considered, and even graduates are unemployed. And I have only complemented primary. If I had studied further I could have become a teacher. With this level of education, nothing can be done.” Salma Bibi, female, 20 years, Pakistan Source: Rural Poverty Report 2011, International Fund for Agricultural Development

The livelihoods of poor rural people 100% 90%

Ecuador

Ghana

Indones.

Nepal

Nicarag. Pakistan Panama Viet Nam B'desh*

Chile*

China*

Source: RIGA data; non-RIGA* Agricultural

Non Agricultural

Source: Rural Poverty Report 2011, International Fund for Agricultural Development

In most countries, most households depend on non-agricultural as well as agricultural income sources. But overall, some 80 % of rural households engage in farm activities of some sort.

1 98 6 1 99 4

1 99 2 2 00 2

1 98 7 1 99 9

1 99 0 1 99 6

1 98 8 2 00 4

1 99 2 1 99 8

1 99 7 2 00 3

1 99 1 2 00 1

1 99 8 2 00 1

1 99 6 2 00 3

1 99 3 2 00 0

1 99 2 1 99 8

80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0%

1 99 5 1 99 8

Percentage of income

The share of non-farm income over time in total rural household incomes

Mexico* Phili‐ ppines*

Agenda for rural economic growth 1. 2. 3.

4.

It is essential to improve the overall environment of rural areas, including infrastructure, utilities, services and governance. It is vital to enable poor rural people to manage risk and reduce the level of risk they face. It is fundamental to invest in education to enable women, men, young people and children to develop the skills they need to take advantage of new economic opportunities. There is an ongoing need to strengthen the collective capabilities of rural people, particularly through their membership-based organizations. These organizations give people confidence, security and power – all invaluable attributes for overcoming poverty.

Source: Rural Poverty Report 2011, International Fund for Agricultural Development

“I really hope to have improved in the future, with some livestock, and my family all healthy… I’d have a few head of cattle, sheep, goats and chickens, many chickens. Then my life would have changed. And then I’d feel better about myself. I always believe that it will be different; I do believe it will be better” Manantane Babay, 19 years, Androy Region, Madagascar “Someone can achieve success, firstly, by proposing it, being positive, and then by studying hard: study is the basis of all the goals in life. We should study even to perform minimal things. ... So, without studies, a person can do nothing, study is the main basis, so to say…” Eliany Portocarrero Novoa, 15 years, Amazonas, Peru Source: Rural Poverty Report 2011, International Fund for Agricultural Development

Sources: • Publications Rural Poverty Report 2011, IFAD (http://www.ifad.org/rpr2011/index.htm) • Videos http://www.ifad.org/video/index.htm • Websites www.ifad.org www.ruralpovertyportal.org www.ifad-un.blogspot.com