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COMCEC Agriculture Outlook 2019
Introduction
As of 2019, world population has reached 7.8 billion people. Almost half of this lives in rural
areaswhere themain economic activity is agriculture. For many economies, especially those of
developing countries, agriculture plays a distinctive role in economic development.
Therefore, it is seen as an important engine of growth and unique source for poverty reduction
in most of the developing world. Empirical studies demonstrate that agricult ure is the most
effective sector in generating income for the poorest segments of the population. Hence, it is
accepted as a key sector for economic growth, reducing poverty and sustainable rural
development especially in developing countries.
In most of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) member countries, agriculture is one
of the leading sectors in terms of its contribution to income, employment, and trade. In 201 8,
OIC agricultural gross domestic production (GDP) reached 666 billion US Dollars with a share
of 20 percent in the world’s agricultural production. Furthermore, the number of people
employed in the agricultural sector in the OIC member countries reached 223million in 2016,
which accounts for 26 percent of world’s agricultural employment. Agricultural commodity
trade of the 57 OIC member countries has increased considerably in the period from 1990 to
2017 and reached 356 billion US Dollars. Thus, agricultural sector is of critical importance for
many OIC member countries for generating income, increasing welfare, eradicating extreme
poverty and hunger.
This report highlights the recent state of agricultural sector by analyzing macro agricultural
indicators, sectoral indicators and state of food security in the OIC member countries.
Agricultural value added, growth, population, employment, trade, resource use, production,
productivity and selected dimensions of food security in the OIC member countries are
presented and analyzed in this outlook. The report alsodwells on the cooperation efforts under
the Standing Committee for Economic and Commercial Cooperation of the Organization of
Islamic Cooperation (COMCEC).
OIC member countries are analyzed in three groups: African Group, Arab Group and Asian
Group. Furthermore, for more detailed analysis, agriculture sector trends in the OIC member
countries are compared with the world trends. Updated key figures and tables created by using
most recent data from various international organizations are presented with the aim of
enriching the understanding of the state of agriculture sector in the OIC. Lastly, a new section
titled ‘Climate Change as the Main Driver of Food Insecurity in OIC Member States’ has been
added.