Dimensions and determinants of rural poverty
The economic crisis of the past 10 years has resulted in low investment and consequent low productivity in the agricultural sector. This has been exacerbated by environmental degradation, including desertification as a result of inappropriate agricultural practices, natural disasters and armed violence by terrorist groups, which have caused displacement of a large numbers of families and disrupted agricultural production. Drug trafficking and the production of coca have also disrupted agriculture. Due to the persistent falling prices of agricultural produce, production has also fallen. Rural women have had to compensate by substituting industrial products by homemade ones or by reducing household expenses (often education of girls). Women have also had to assume greater responsibility for subsistence food production and, as producers for the market, have encountered severe restrictions in demand and decreased access to agricultural resources, land, water, credit and technology. Structural adjustment programmes have had a negative effect on the rural poor, especially women, due to reduced spending on services.
