Poverty is spreading. There are now as many people living in absolute povertyampamp8212almost a billion in the rural Third World aloneampamp8212as lived on the entire planet only a century ago. Yet poverty continues to be shrouded in mystery. Consider that Fourfifths of the worlds poor live in rural areas About 340 million people worldwide are currently chronically ill from malnutrition Over 500 million do not get enough calories to do a full days labor At a time when enough grain is being produced to provide everyone in the world with twice the daily minimum caloric requirements global hunger is at an alltime high Half again as many rural womenampamp8212almost 600 millionampamp8212live in absolute poverty today as did 20 years. In an effort to call special attention to this urgent problem the International Fund for Agricultural Development IFAD a United Nations agency that has approved more than 300 development programs in almost 100 countries and is considered the worlds foremost authority on issues of rural poverty and New York University Press are proud to be present The State of World Rural Poverty. In the tradition of the World Development Report and World Resources The State of World Rural Poverty offers the first comprehensive look at the economic conditions and prospects of the worlds rural poor. Certain to become the definitive source of data and analysis as well as an invaluable policy guide to issues involving development and poverty in underdeveloped nations this volume incorporates research from all over the world.