Latin America's agricultural "boon" and persistence of rural poverty: some reflections/"Boom" agricola e persistencia da pobreza na America Latina: algumas reflexoes/"Boom" agricola y persistencia de la pobreza rural en America Latina: algumas reflexiones

This article offers an analysis of some of the factors that appear to be widening the gap between the dynamic growth of the agricultural sector in parts of Latin America and progress in the reduction of rural poverty. The gap is analyzed through examining the capacity demonstrated by each of the countries studied to make progress in relation to both poverty reduction and growth. Out of this arises the issue of the shape of a new agenda for research and policy discourse in the context of current trends in agricultural and rural development. We refer first to the origins of the hypothesis behind the study, examining the impact on rural poverty of the various models of development that have prevailed in the region. Secondly, we provide a brief summary of the main results that have emerged from the eight countries studied. Thirdly, the main conclusions of the study are presented. Finally, proposals are made for national policies to overcome the various manifestations of rural poverty.