This volume investigates the complex relationship between agricultural modernization and the persistence of rural poverty in developing economies. The editors, including contributions from the International Food Policy Research Institute, synthesize research presented at a 1982 workshop to evaluate how shifts in agricultural productivity impact income distribution and food security. The text provides a rigorous framework for understanding the structural barriers that prevent economic growth from effectively reaching the most vulnerable rural populations.

Experts recognize this collection as a significant archival resource for understanding the economic debates of the early 1980s regarding agricultural development. The text is noted for its academic density and remains a foundational reference for scholars studying the historical evolution of rural poverty policy.