Organic Agriculture, Poverty Reduction, and the Millennium Development Goals: Discussion Paper

Abstract

This paper reviews the existing literature on organic agriculture, poverty reduction and its linkages to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The paper aims at informing governments and donors of the potential impact of OA on the MDGs along with identifying the key gaps in the knowledge base on the linkages for each MDG. Ultimately, the paper hopes to provide a starting point for developing a research agenda that can be used for policy formulation to support organic agriculture, particularly in marginal areas where majority of the poor reside.During the past few decades, the Green Revolution has brought about significant changes in the world’s food production systems. It is recognized that while the Green Revolution has benefited better-off farmers in irrigated areas, it has by-passed the poor in marginal areas. Low-external input sustainable agriculture (LEISA) has long been viewed as an alternative for areas where the Green Revolution technologies are not feasible. More recently, one particular alternative that has gained interest is organic agriculture1, due to its commercial viability. Most farmers in marginal areas practice traditional agriculture methods using very little or no agrochemicals. By adopting organic agriculture (OA), which requires less financial inputs while placing more reliance on natural and human resources, farmers could move towards more sustainable agricultural practices (Scialabba, 2000). Improving the agricultural production system in marginal areas in a sustainable manner and providing market access for the poor hold the key to the mass reduction of poverty.