How to develope agriculture in LDC?

Question

What are some ways that the less developed countries could increase food production to levels where their populations would be freed from the land so that they could begin to develop economically (by directly increasing agricultural production). Please keep in mind the severe economic constraints that the LDCs are under because of limited economic resources. (Please leave out population control and the availability of foreign aid.)

Answer 1

Agriculture and the knowledge of it is available to all cultures. The problem is in part the governments in may places. They don't support the farmer but instead support imports to balance their exports which too often are manufactured goods from a cheap labor base. In many places just a limited rainfall is enough to minimize farming and the equipment to supply water (or infrastructure to provide it) is costly or unavailable. Some countries have even given over prime land to foreign investment just on the principal of good location even though that land will not be used to farm but as space for a factory or some such non agricultural pursuit (the mighty foreign dollar). Sometimes that land produces a crop that is an export item (not a food even) and turns a farm that could grow local foods into just another factory of sorts. I would have to say the biggest problem in country's that are low on the economic development list is the lack of support and encouragement by the governments that should be nurturing those farms.

Answer 2

In almost every case the development of agriculture in "less developed countries" is the result of repressive government. Governments that instead of aiding agriculture by helping with finical aid that they need, place additional hardships on farmers by high taxation, limiting imports of products that they need and exports of products that may be able to sell. Even aid given by developed countries is diverted into the pockets of government officials. It is only when these obstacles are overcome that these countries can develop their potential in agriculture production.