Help the Farmer

Freer trade is increasingly seen as a means of achieving economic growth and alleviating poverty.

But liberalizing agriculture is difficult in regions like South Asia where around 70 percent of its population depend on it for a living.

Freer trade is increasingly seen as a means of achieving economic growth and alleviating poverty. But liberalizing agriculture is difficult in regions like South Asia where around 70 percent of its population depend on it for a living. Cutting tariffs and further liberalizing the sector may increase food insecurity and poverty while worsening living standards of farmers.

Trade is seen as the engine of growth, and growth as a tool to alleviate poverty.

But growth has not been equal across the world.

Although South Asia is home to one fifth of the world population, the region accounts for only 2 percent of global GDP and 1 percent of global trade.

The flow of goods and services into the region increased with trade liberalization aimed at achieving grater economic growth and poverty reduction.

Economists say the pro-export push of trade liberalization has resulted in the industrial sectors benefiting more leaving agriculture lagging.

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