Jamaica : food aid disincentives study

The Action Plan proposed a food aid level substantially above previously planned levels. The question arose: will continued high levels of concessional food assistance conflict with the Mission"s (and government"s) efforts to increase domestic food production? The AID/W review committee recommended that an analysis be undertaken of the impact of concessional food aid on domestic food production in Jamaica. This analysis, a "Food Aid Disincentives Study", would serve as one input for determining the P.L. 480 Title I level for FY 1988-89. The analysis was undertaken in Jamaica during a two week period in May/June 1987. Following an introduction, Section II of this document provides an overview of the size and composition of the P.L. 480 program. Section III summarizes the role of the agriculture sector in the Jamaican economy. Section IV focuses on domestic food production and consumption, quantifies the food gap, and indicates how the gap is being met with commercial and concessional imports. Section V addresses the government"s strategy to achieve food self-sufficieny through import substitution. Section VI estimates future food import requirements. Section VIII suggests possible alternatives to food aid, and Section VIII reports conclusions and recommendations. (Author abstract)