APPROACHES TO UPROOTING POVERTY IN AFRICA

Poverty in Africa is primarily a rural phenomenon. Its growing incidence is partly due to slow growth in GDP induced by economic policies that discriminated against agriculture. Urban bias in social spending has left the rural poor with little or no access to basic needs. Technological change, improved rural infrastructure and an efficient marketing environment are needed to enhance agricultural growth and maximize returns to the rural producer. Improving the human capital of the rural poor will expand their employment opportunities. Cost-effective transfer programmes would provide a safety net for the vulnerable poor.