Agricultural Policy Monitoring and Evaluation 2014. OECD Countries

Government support for agriculture in OECD countries remained on a downward trend in 2013, yet much of this support was still in a form that distorts markets, according to the 2014 OECD’s agricultural policy monitoring report issued in September 2014.

OECD Agricultural Policy Monitoring and Evaluation 2014 found that support to producers in 2013 amounted to 18% of gross farm receipts, down slightly from 2012 and compared with around 30% two decades ago. Half of the $258bn / €194bn total in 2013 referred to instruments that distort production and trade, however.

The report called on governments to do more to break links between farm support and production and ensure the focus was on improving agricultural productivity and sustainability.

'High prices and high incomes in the farm sector have created the right conditions for deeper reform of agricultural policies, and much more needs to be done beyond fine-tuning', said OECD Secretary-General Angel Gurría. 'This means that production and trade-distorting support could inch back up in some countries if agricultural prices were to fall'.

Website: OECD iLibrary http://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/

OECD: Trade and Agriculture Directorate: Agricultural policies and support; Agricultural Policy Monitoring and Evaluation http://www.oecd.org/tad/agricultural-policies/monitoring-and-evaluation.htm

OECD: Newsroom: Press Release, 04.09.14: More action needed to move away from market-distorting farm support, says OECD http://www.oecd.org/newsroom/more-action-needed-to-move-away-from-market-distorting-farm-support.htm

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