This degradation is a critical link in a downward spiral with respect to poverty. Poor land quality compromises farm incomes, resulting in ongoing poverty and a lack of resources to invest in increasing land and labor productivity, condemning farmers to repeat the cycle often worsening degradation. Inappropriate land management, particularly in areas with high population densities and growth rates, further increases loss of productivity. This in turn affects food security and the potential for rural on and off-farm income generation.

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