The interaction between social protection and agriculture: a review of evidence (Global Food Security, Volume 10, September 2016)
Global Food Security
The interaction between social protection and agriculture: A review of evidence
Highlights
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Social protection can improve input use, farm output and asset ownership.
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Social protection improves risk coping, non-farm investments and human capital
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Agriculture increases income, food security, assets and income earning capabilities
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Social protection and agricultural interventions generate local multiplier effects
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Coherence between social protection and agriculture should be encouraged
Abstract
Both agricultural interventions and social protection interventions are needed for combatting hunger and poverty among poor smallholder farmers. Yet, coordination between these two sectors is generally limited and, until recently, little attention has been paid to the interaction between them and how this potentially improves rural livelihoods. Our review analyses the empirical evidence on how social protection impacts agricultural production and how agricultural interventions reduce risks and vulnerability at the household and local economy levels. Most studies show that social protection can increase agricultural production while agricultural interventions can lower vulnerability. However, the availability of evidence is uneven across outcomes and developing regions. We conclude that existing evidence largely provides an empirical rationale for building synergies between social protection and smallholder agriculture.