This paper has two main objectives. Firstly, it provides an
overview of trends in the magnitude, location and nature of
rural poverty, with emphasis on least developed countries.
Secondly, it offers new evidence that advances our understanding
of rural poverty, by presenting quantitative analyses of the
determinants both of rural activities and of income from farm-
and non-farm sources drawing on data from FAO's Rural Income
Generating Activities (RIGA) data base of 15 countries,
complemented by demographic, health, production and income data
from other sources. In order to reduce rural poverty, policies
should concentrate both on improving household activities
already available - most prominently farming - and on expanding
the range of potential activities of family members. The lesson
from experience and much of the rural development literature is
that the income generating potential - the ability to access and
take advantage of activities - depends crucially on access to
assets, such as education, land, an