Addressing rural poverty and environmental degradation therefore often requires broad cross-sectoral approaches, which must go beyond agriculture. These efforts must focus on the diversity of livelihood sources and address systemic conditions that constrain the ability of rural poor to overcome poverty. For example, efforts to increase access to health, education and other basic social services, as well as transport and communication, directly affect the ability of rural poor women and men to pursue alternative incomes on and off the farm. Poor literacy and numeracy make it more difficult for rural poor to obtain information about ways to use resources sustainably and productively
