Over the past two decades, Bangladesh has transformed its food markets and food policies to free the country from the constant threat of famine. The authors, in this report, describe this remarkable transformation.

The authors examine the lessons that rural financial institutions such as banks and cooperatives can learn from the informal lending sector. They also considers the roles government should play in the provision of financial services.

A large body of literature makes the argument that commercialization of agriculture has mainly negative effects on the employment, incomes, food production and consumption, health, and nutrition of the poor.