Asian LDCs overtook the productMty level first of the African and then of the island LDCs (Chart 2.4A). To the extent that rural population growth outpaces the rate of expansion of the agricultural area, area per worker (A/L) declines, adding to the challenge of raising average labour productivity (Y/L) by means of increasing average yield (Y/A) in order to reduce poverty and improve the well-being of the rural population. Still, since the 1980s, agricultural yields in LDCs have lagged behind the strong growth in ODCs, but they have gained some ground with respect to developed countries, especially since 2000.