ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses a brief history of agricultural development worldwide and describes the close relationship of agricultural and industrial developments in modern societies. It examines some characteristics of a successful agriculture at national levels and explores reasons for optimism about the world food problem. The world food problem has two components —the demand side and the supply side. In general, a successful national agriculture results from a good agricultural plan or programs that provide farmers with relevant production information and assures an adequate infrastructure that is needed for both production and marketing of agricultural products. Since the World Food Congress in Rome in the early 1970s, the Food and Agriculture Organization, the World Bank, the bilateral aid programs and other organizations have given priority in their aid programs to agricultural development in the poor countries.
