An environment conductive to equitably shared economic growth is essential to reducing poverty and enabling each and every person to have access to food. A very low gross domestic product (GDP*) per caput and widespread chronic undernutrition are generally associated with a dependence on agriculture as a major economic sector, shown by a high share of agricultural GDP in total GDP (and a high ratio of rural to urban population). Economic progress in the agricultural sector is crucial to raising incomes of the poor and increasing food supplies.

* Gross domestic product (GDP) is the value added in the production of all goods and services during one year. Agricultural GDP pertains only to the value added in agricultural production, and its share as a percentage of total GDP varies greatly from one country to the next.