SELF SUFFICIENY, DELINKAGE AND FOOD PRODUCTION: LIMITS ON AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT IN AFRICA

In: Policy studies review: PSR, Band 4, Heft 2, S. 311-319

Abstract

THERE ARE FUNDAMENTAL CONTRADICTIONS BETWEEN THE DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY IN THE LESS DEVELOPED COUNTRIES (LDCS) AND THE BUREAUCRATIC, INSTITUTIONAL, AND POLITICAL BARRIERS WHICH HINDER DEVELOPMENT. DEPENDENCY THEORY HAS OFFERED A STRONG RATIONALE AND A PROCESS FOR REVERSING THE DEPENDENCY OF LDCS UPON THE SO-CALLED FIRST WORLD COUNTRIES, PARTICULARLY FOR GENERATING A MORE SELF-SUFFICIENT FOOD PRODUCTION SYSTEM. BUT DEPENDENCY REVERSAL IN TURN DEPENDS HEAVILY UPON DEVELOPMENTAL ADMINISTRATION, WHICH IS DEFINED AS THAT COMPLEX OF AGENCIES, MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS, AND PROCESSES A GOVERNMENT ESTABLISHES TO ACHIEVE ITS DEVELOPMENT GOALS AS WELL AS THOSE ACTIVITIES OF GOVERNMENTS FOSTERING ECONOMIC GROWTH, STRENGTHENING HUMAN CAPABILITIES, AND PROMOTING HUMAN EQUALITY. THIS ARTICLE DISCUSSES THE DILEMMA FOR DEVELOPING COUNTRIES IMPOSED BY THE FACT THAT THERE ARE SEVERE CONSTRAINTS UPON DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION. THESE CONSTRAINTS ARE DISCUSSED.