Structural adjustment and food policies in sub-Saharan Africa
Hirsch, R.
Politique Africaine 37: 17-31
1990
Document Number: 371645
The paper first reviews the concepts underlying the IMF and World Bank's structural adjustment programmes and the manner in which these programmes are implemented in African economies. It then looks at the meaning of the term 'food policy' in the African context. In most African states, food policies, although often spoken of, do not really exist. A notable exception to this is Senegal, where significant policy changes have been introduced since 1975, supported by increased government intervention in the agricultural sector. Finally, the paper assesses the impact of structural adjustment programmes on Africa's food situation. It concludes that these programmes emphasize short-term economic performance at the expense of exposing African economies to risks of famine and greater dependency on international markets for agricultural products.