This paper briefly reviews the policy options available under the urban-oriented, industrial-led growth strategy for low-income nations, such as those in Asia (i.e., India, Pakistan, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines and South Korea). As growth with redistribution has been the denotation for development in these countries, it shall be shown that the two policies “are incapable, either individually or in concert, of accomplishing the goal of increasing the income of the majority of the labor force. A strategy of accelerated rural development is proposed to meet both growth and redistribution objectives. Policies complementing this strategy are organized under a concept of agropolitan development, a suggestive synthesis of programs for the spatial reorganization of rural settlements in Asia.