Scherr, Sara J.Hazell, Peter2016-04-192016-04-191994International Food Policy Research Institute, Environment and Production Technology Division (EPTD), Discussion Paper 1http://hdl.handle.net/10919/66487Metadata only recordCurrent trends in demography, agricultural production and rural environment in the developing countries suggest that so-called "marginal lands" must play a larger and probably growing role in food supply and economic development for the foreseeable future. To fulfill this critical role, public policy towards these lands needs to be revised. A key policy focus should be to strengthen incentives for local land users to not only maintain, but to improve the natural resource base for food and fiber supply. Such "land-improving investments" are needed to reduce production and subsistence risks and permit more intensive use without degradation.text/plainen-USIn CopyrightDryland farmingSustainable developmentSoil erosionArid zonesSoilConservation planningAdoption of innovationsGovernanceAbstractCopyright 1994 International Food Policy Research Institute