to the point

No country has ever reduced poverty significantly without raising productivity and growth in agriculture. Agriculture is how the vast majority of Africans make their living. It is the sector most capable of growing the continent’s economy in the medium term. Research and innovation in agriculture are vital to achieving poverty reduction and sustainable growth in the twenty-first century.
(Rates of return of 40%– 80 % are typical for high-quality agricultural research. A ten-year evaluation of the Consultative Group on International Development research showed that for every $1 invested $9 were returned in benefits to poor communities)