Agriculture is the “backbone” that will lift the world’s Least Developed Countries (LDCs) out of that category, according to a senior official from a UN agency that is working to eradicate rural poverty.

Ashwani Muthoo is in Antalya, Turkey, where he is attending a conference to review progress in these 48 nations over the past five years.

Mr Muthoo is the Director of Global Policy, Knowledge and Strategy at the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).

Last year, nearly 70 per cent of the agency’s new annual commitment went to LDCs.

Mr Muthoo talks to Stéphanie Coutrix about the need to invest in agriculture to help these countries achieve economic and social transformation.

Duration: 3'30"