Uruguay: Family Agriculture Development

The World Bank has a long relationship with Uruguay's agricultural sector, expanding over a period of more than 60 years in which several projects and various analytical and advisory assistance initiatives have been implemented. The main purposes of the present report are: a) to analyze the main characteristics of family agriculture as well as its development potential and constraints; b) to examine Uruguay's current agricultural policy and institutional framework; c) present a set of measures aimed at reducing vulnerabilities and increasing development opportunities for family producers; and d) contribute to Ministry of Livestock, Agriculture and Fishery's (MGAP's) preparation of an agricultural and rural development plan 2010-15, by presenting a set of policy recommendations and measures to support an economic and environmentally sustainable family agriculture development within the Government's overall strategy to promote more equitable rural development. Uruguay's agricultural and food sector has successfully mastered past crises and retained its role as an important sector of the national economy, which saw its contribution to Gross Domestic product (GDP) increased from 6.0 percent during the economic crisis in 2000-2001 to 9.1 percent of national GDP, or 13.7 percent including agro-food processing, in 2008.