way from production to the consumers stomach; and link food policies with other macropolicies. Econometric modelling can be of great help in weaving the coordinated fabric.

(3) Do not equate self-sufficiency with autarky, but strive for food secur- ity. On the supply side, this means the ability to produce needed food. At the demand level, this means to provide ready economic and physical access to food required by all consumers. Parti- cipation in food exports and imports thus becomes consistent with a self- sufficiency strategy oriented by food security criteria.

(4) Temporary subsidies are not necessarily bad. However, producer subsidies should be economically justi- fied by rapidly enhancing productiv- ity. If consumer subsidies are to be socially justified they must be targeted to neediest groups and efficiently administered.

(5) In spite the current fashion. which favours private implementation of food policies, this approach can be expedited by State-Owned Enter- prises (SOEs), provided they are suit- ably encouraged by political and eco- nomic incentives and have reasonable existing administrative capacity. Be- cause various government bureaucra- cies have different institutional in- terests and agendas, the incentives must fit the circumstances. One way to achieve that is by involving im- plementors in all planning processes. Admittedly, that is easier said than done.

(6) New production technology will be rapidly adopted by traditional producers in response to strong econo- mic incentives. Technological pack- ages must be flexible, rather than standard, to fit location-specific condi- tions readily.

(7) To ensure a positive contribu- tion of the private sector to the imple- mentation process requires a sym- pathetic rather than adversary approach to understanding its struc- ture and competitive dynamics.

(8) An effective feedback mechanism must link researchers of adaptive technology with producers. A sustained impact assessment re- quires systematic information collec- tion and analysis, so as to provide

FOOD POLICY November 1987

sustained feedback to policy makers about effectiveness of their strategy and enable them to take prompt reme- dial action. Relevant and timely data needs to be collected to permit assess- ment of how much is being produced of what, by whom, where and why.

(9) Food self-sufficiency is attain- able, but requires major, concentrated and continuous effort. Governments need to monitor costs of these efforts so as not to fall into the ‘self- sufficiency-at-any-price’ trap.

(10) Physical efficiency of moving produce from farm to consumer should be monitored by post-harvest losses. The consumption effects need to be measured by surveys of intake of different foods and monitoring nutri- tional status of at-risk groups. Income distribution effects have to be periodi- cally assessed.

In short, well-intentioned policy is not enough, no matter how brilliantly designed and ‘potentially’ beneficial to producer and consumer target groups. Neither is it sufficient to have effective leverage with government institutions. Food policy can only be fully effective and lasting if existing producers and

consumers are willing and able to take it on as a political project of their own _ in agreement with their interests, needs and capacities. That counsel sounds so simple, it seems trivial. This is precisely why it is so difficult to carry out.

To sum up, the Austin/Esteva edited volume is head-and-shoulders above the dozens of books on food policy that I have read within the last decade or so. I therefore congratulate Cornell University, my Alma Mater. for publishing this marvellously useful opus; and recommend it uncon- ditionally to actors on the food policy scene everywhere.

Frank Meissner The Inter-American Development

Bank Washington, DC, USA

‘Frank Meissner, ‘The Mexican Food Sys- tem (SAM) - a strategy for sowing pet- roleum’, food Policy, Vol 6, No 4, pp 219-230; M.R. Redclift, ‘The Mexican Food System (SAM) - sowing subsidles, reaping apathy’, Food Policy, Vol 6, No 4, pp 231-235; James E. Austin and Gustav0 Esteva, ‘SAM is dead - long live SAM’. Food Policy, Vol 10, No 2, pp 123-l 36.

Seeking solutions for poverty in the Third World POVERTY AND HUNGER Issues and Options for Food Security in Developing Countries World Bank Policy Study, The World Bank, Washington, DC, USA, 1986, 69 pp, f 7.50

LANDLESSNESS: A GROWING PROBLEM by Radna Sinha Food and Agriculture Organization, Rome, Italy, 1984, 112 pp

THE POLITICAL ECONOMY OF SOIL EROSION IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES by Piers Blaikie Longman, Harlow, UK, 1985, 188pp

AGRICULTURE, POVERTY AND FREEDOM IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES by Eric Clayton Macmillan, London, UK, 1983,277~~

AGRICULTURAL CHANGE AND RURAL POVERTY: VARIATIONS ON A THEME BY DHARM NARAIN edited by John W. Mellor and Gunvant M. Desai Published for IFPRI by The Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, MD, USA, 1985, 232 pp, f21.95

AGRICULTURE AND EQUITABLE GROWTH: THE CASE OF PUNJAB- HARYANA by John R. Westly Westview Press, Boulder, CO, USA, 1986, 369 pp, f32.50

397