Food security is of vital importance to all nations, but particularly so in developing countries. Governments worldwide are seeking to liberalize agricultural trade, and to change their role from one of controlling trade and prices. Instead these governments seek new roles in encouraging market developments, ensuring quality and providing food security by giving income assistance rather than controlling food supplies. The issue of how this process is being managed in developing countries is the focus of this book. A series of case studies including India, Sri Lanka, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Kenya and Ivory Coast highlights the individuality of approaches and the varying capability and will of governments to take on these new roles.

Autorentext

MICHAEL HUBBARD is based at the School of Public Policy, University of Birmingham, UK. He has published widely on the subjects of agricultural trade, public policy and food security, including Agricultural Exports and Economic Growth, Preventing Famine and Improving Food Security.

Inhalt

List of Figures and Tables List of Acronyms INTRODUCTION: Government and Markets: Theory and Concepts Reforming the Role of Government in Agricultural Markets COUNTRY STUDIES OF THE CHANGING ROLE OF GOVERNMENT IN AGRICULTURAL TRADE: India Sri Lanka Ghana Zimbabwe Kenya KEY ISSUES: How Can Food Supplies be Entrusted to the Market? Can Public Marketing Agencies be Reformed? Can Public Services to Marketing be Contracted Out? How Can Quality be Assured? What Public Role is There in Market Information? CONCLUSION: Developing Agricultural Trade: New Roles for Government References