Research can reduce global poverty: Expert

Hyderbad, Nov 14 (UNI) Science-based agricultural research, carried out by 15 international agricultural research centres was the backbone of international efforts to achieve Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) of reducing global poverty by half by 2015, ICRISAT Director General William Dhar has said.

The relationship between improvement in agricultural productivity and decrease in poverty was strong since 50 per cent of the global poor were smallholders.

Moreover, 22 per cent were landless rural poor, who derived their income from agricultural activities.

Investment in international agricultural research had a multiplier effect on agriculture productivity, he said.

UNI AP JJ 1702