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As a follow on to some of my previous comments, and those by Dirk Bezemer about the release of resources from agriculture as productivity increases, and the comments on 'the urban problem' from several contributors. It seems to me that much of 'the urban problem' arises from (in economic terminology) labour having left the rural areas for lack of gainful employment thinking that greener grass grows in the urban arena. Would the problem of lots of poor people living in bad conditions in urban areas be alleviated if profitable employment opportunities arose in rural areas? People are economically rational. If they see that there is employment and better standards of living arising from the employment available in rural areas they will go where the jobs are? Obviously this is not an instant panacea but it seems to me that making the rural sector productive and profitable is a potential means of bringing the economically inactive poor, rural and urban, into the productive economy, to a greater or lesser extent, over a period of time? Clearly the technologies used in the agricultural sector will have an impact on how much labour is used, as will the degree of productivity and profitability of the enterprises. Completely barking idea? No doubt I shall soon be hearing. Thank you James Biscoe 16/5/04 0930hrs
Please visit dfid-agriculture-consultation.nri.org.