An international food agency has urged government to carry out “structural transformation” by pouring investments into farm research and development (R&D), infrastructure, labor-intensive manufacturing and services, and land distribution in order for rural economies to grow.

The International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) which is co-implementing a $2.5 million Asean market development work, said that policy transformation like those adopted by China will play a huge role in rapidly lifting rural areas into progress.