Agriculture was the primary source of income for most rural households, accounting for 66 percent of rural
employment, rising to 75 percent among low-income households, but the sector was beset by a range of challenges.
Chronic under-investment in the rural economy (notably in infrastructure, public services and programs) and ineffective
natural resource management had steadily depleted the rural productive base. Farm holdings lacked the technological,
informational and financial resources (including improved planting materials or pest controls) to boost productivity, and
faced high risks of shocks due to alternating droughts (2014-16) and storms (such as Hurricane Matthew in 2017).