A.I.D. food policy programming : lessons learned -- an assessment of the `consumption effects of agricultural policies' project, 1977-1988

From 1977 to 1988, the project conducted research and policy studies, technical assistance, and training activities in about 30 countries. A major emphasis of these activities was to determine the impact of food policies on the poor. This assessment of the project identifies lessons drawn from CEAP country studies, which focused on producer and consumer price policies; food subsidies; input, technology, and marketing policies; and macroeconomic and trade policies. It also identifies lessons relating to research design, food policy analysis, technical assistance, training, and project management and administration. A major lesson is that accurate data on consumption parameters can dispel traditional wisdom and promote better policy design. For example, it was discovered that policies to induce coarse grain consumption by increasing rice prices are misguided, since consumers respond to the price hikes by reducing their overall grain consumption. The report concludes with recommendations for future A.I.D. activities related to food policy, with special attention to developing policies and interventions to assist groups vulnerable to the adverse impacts of structural adjustment programs. Abstracts of the 17 CEAP country studies are included.