|
on Central and Western Asia |
| By: | Sushil J Aaron |
| Abstract: | India’s foreign policy has had an anomalous quality since the time Jawaharlal Nehru resolutely attempted to steer clear of Cold War alliances. This continues to be so given India’s unique situation of establishing “strategic relations” with both Israel and Iran, as part of its Greater Middle East policy. A study of this paradox assumes significance for various reasons. One, it offers a glimpse into the way India is reordering its foreign policy in the post Cold War, as part of its clamour for Great Power status, thus presenting a westward complement to its familiar ‘Look East policy’ which seeks to engage regions beyond South Asia. It also provides a view of the complexities involved in endorsing the American agenda in a geopolitical neighbourhood, transformed by the September 11 attacks, and yet, one that affects India’s security because of its energy reserves and Islamist ferment. To this end, this study analyses India’s foreign policy toward the Middle East and Central Asia since the late 1990s, with a specific focus on its relations with Israel, Iran and Iraq that reviews the way it reconciles immediate security needs with competing realities of economic interdependence and political sensitivities. The paper also evaluates the challenges India faces in strengthening links with Afghanistan and Central Asia.[CSH OP NO 7] |
| Keywords: | India; Middle East; Post Cold War; INDIA-ISRAEL RELATIONS; Defense Ties; Security cooperation; Arab response; Pro-Israel American Jewish Organizations; Congress Party; Israel-Turkey relations; IRAN; The Delhi and Teheran Declarations; Mishra’s AJC speech; North South Trade Corridor; Elusive Pipeline Project; Pakistan; India and Gulf War II; Domestic uproar; AFGHANISTAN AND CENTRAL ASIA; Afghan Policy; India in Central Asia; Taxonomy |
| Date: | 2009 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ess:wpaper:id:1970&r=cwa |
| By: | Rohit Mutatkar |
| Abstract: | This paper seeks to provide a profile of social group disparities and poverty in India,where social groups are classified as scheduled caste, scheduled tribe and other social groups, and examine the factors underlying differences in levels of living between these groups and for each group separately. The paper argues that social group disparities in levels of living are the result of historically rooted ‘social disadvantages’ for scheduled castes and scheduled tribes, by way of social exclusion and physical exclusion respectively, which continue to operate in contemporary Indian society.[IGIDR WP 2005 04] |
| Keywords: | Poverty; Scheduled Caste; Scheduled Tribe; Exclusion; India;social justice; equity; Social group disparities; inequalities |
| Date: | 2009 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ess:wpaper:id:1980&r=cwa |
| By: | Samira Guennif |
| Abstract: | This paper revolves around the Public health related aspects of industrial and intellectual property rights policies in a developing country with respect to Aids in India. It also focusses on its preventive measures, status of the epidemic with referance to the Indian Specificities, measures of Public health, availability and knowledge of condoms, NACO's effort to spread awareness and the ARV production in India with main players as in Cipla and Ranbaxy. [CSH OP NO 8] |
| Keywords: | NACO; HIV; Asia; Northern multinational companies; anti-AIDS treatments; anti-retroviral drugs; Glaxo-Smith-Kline; Bristol-Myers Squibb; Boerhinger- Ingelheim; National AIDS Committee; National AIDS Control Program; sexually transmitted diseases; antenatal clinics; World Bank Model; epidemic; high-risk sexual behaviour; prostitution; public awareness; prevention; blood collection system; NACO objective; ARV; Ranbaxy; Cipla; condoms |
| Date: | 2009 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ess:wpaper:id:1974&r=cwa |
| By: | Anitha Ramanna |
| Abstract: | India’s patent reforms represent a shift in India’s policy from one of enormous opposition to revising patent laws according to the WTO, to one of compliance with many aspects of TRIPs (Trade Related Intellectual Property Rights) Agreement. Industry and civil society had a strong interest in blocking reforms on IPRs (Intellectual Property Rights), and initially played an important role in preventing reforms of India’s patent law. India has recently changed its patent regime, led by important industry groups who revised their positions, and new NGOs that promoted reform. The preferences of actors and their changing interests are important factors in the reform process. Perceived benefits from the new regime partly explain the rise of a pro-reform constituency among industry and NGOs. Yet preference formation is complex and depends on interpretation of strategies by various actors.[IGIDR WP 06] |
| Keywords: | Intellectual Property Rights; industry groups; NGOs; reform; preferences; Trade Related Intellectual Property Rights |
| Date: | 2009 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ess:wpaper:id:1979&r=cwa |
| By: | Puttaswamaiah S |
| Abstract: | This paper is an attempt to examine the policy initiatives as well as experience of promoting organic farming in India and Canada where the need for promoting sustainable agriculture has been recognized in the policy statements. In fact, the policy initiatives if any, have emanated mainly from the viewpoint of trade concerns. In the face of these challenges organic farming is nonetheless making inroads in both India and Canada. Unfortunately, there are very few studies that have gone into examining the issues of economic viability, institutional support, and market access for organic farming in India n Canada. This paper tries to fill-up this critical gap by examining these issues in a comparative framework. The analysis, mainly exploratory in nature, is based on the existing literature and secondary data.[WP 162] |
| Keywords: | Agriculture; Sustainable Agriculture; Organic Farming; India; Canada; Production |
| Date: | 2009 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ess:wpaper:id:1975&r=cwa |
| By: | Ravindra H Dholakia |
| Abstract: | Gujarat, West Bengal, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Kerala and Tamil Nadu were the major contributors to the growth acceleration in India after 1991-92. Although the Regional Disparity may increase temporarily, causality test provides support to the hypothesis about spread effects. The Regional growth targets assigned by the 11th Plan in India seem to rely on the spread effects of economic growth acceleration in the better off states to achieve its 9 percent growth target and reduce regional disparity in the long run. To strengthen spread effects, the domestic economy should be further integrated and interlinked with free flow of goods, services and factors of production. [W.P. No. 2009-03-06] |
| Keywords: | Growth Acceleration; Annualised Growth Rates; Growth Among Regions; Granger-Causality; Wald test; Regional Growth Targets; Policy Implications |
| Date: | 2009 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ess:wpaper:id:1982&r=cwa |
| By: | Pandey, Manoj K. |
| Abstract: | The paper examines the association between marital status and self-reported health status of Indian men and women of different ages. Estimation results reveal linkages between marital status and health and show that this relationship is sensitive to the age and gender. Based on findings, the paper argues that a specific marital status in a particular stage of life could be an important target group for health policy intervention. |
| Keywords: | Ageing; Self-reported Health Status; Marital Status; Ordered Probit Regression |
| JEL: | J14 J12 C31 J16 I10 |
| Date: | 2008–10–26 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:15370&r=cwa |
| By: | Singh, Prakash; Pandey, Manoj K. |
| Abstract: | This paper attempts to take a meticulous look on stability of money demand in India Using annual data for period 1953-2007 and the Hansen (1992) and Gregory Hansen (1996) co-integration approaches with structural break. Results of the Gregory Hansen (1996) cointegration analysis show the presence of cointegration in demand for money, real GDP and nominal interest rate with structural break at 1965. Further, study also suggests for downward shift of about 0.33 % around 1965 in the demand for money function and put forward that demand for money is stable except for the period of 1975-1998. |
| Keywords: | Money Demand; Cointegration with Structural Break; Stability; Choice of Monetary Instrument |
| JEL: | E52 E41 |
| Date: | 2009–03–05 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:15425&r=cwa |
| By: | Nandita Saikia (Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany); Domantas Jasilionis (Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany); Faujdar Ram; Vladimir M. Shkolnikov (Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany) |
| Abstract: | This study examines the variation in mortality and mortality trends among different regions in India since the 1970s using data from the Sample Registration System (SRS). Evaluation of the SRS data quality confirms reliability for children and adults under the age of 60 years. Analysis of temporary life expectancy between the exact ages of 0 and 60 years shows that, after significant progress during the 1970s and 1980s, improvements in longevity slowed down in the 1990s and 2000s. The Gini coefficient and dispersion measure of mortality confirm the convergence of mortality across the regions in India between 1971–1975 and 2000–2004. In spite of this trend, a substantial difference between higher longevity in the south and lower longevity in the north was noteworthy in 2001–2004. Age decomposition of temporary life expectancy by age group 0–14 years and 15–59 years suggests that the steep longevity increase in the 1970s and 1980s was largely driven by a reduction in mortality in children under the age of 15 years. In the 1990s and early 2000s, the contribution of both young and adult age groups to longevity increase has diminished. India faces difficulties in making progress in further reductions of infant deaths to the minimum levels and also in fighting chronic and man-made diseases in individuals within older age groups. |
| Keywords: | India, differential mortality, mortality |
| JEL: | J1 Z0 |
| Date: | 2009–05 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:dem:wpaper:wp-2009-013&r=cwa |
| By: | Unal Zenginobuz; Sumru Altug |
| Date: | 2009–02 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:bou:wpaper:2009/02&r=cwa |
| By: | Khan, Muhammad Arshad; Ahmed, Usman |
| Abstract: | This study examines the demand for energy at disaggregate level (gas, electricity and coal) for Pakistan over the period 1972-2007. Over main results suggest that electricity and coal consumption responds positively to changes in real income per capita and negatively to changes in domestic price level. The gas consumption responds negatively to real income and price changes in the shortrun, however, in the long-run real income exerts positive effect on gas consumption, while domestic price remains insignificant. Furthermore, in the short-run the average elasticities of price and real income for gas consumption (in absolute terms) are greater than that of electricity and coal consumption. The differences in elasticities of each component of energy have significant policy implications for income and revenue generation. |
| Keywords: | Energy Demand; Cointegration; Pakistan |
| JEL: | Q41 Q43 |
| Date: | 2009 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:15369&r=cwa |
| By: | Tata Institue of Social Sciences TISS |
| Abstract: | The study was undertaken with the objective to review and analyse the costs and benefits of the Sardar Sarovar Dam at this stage, when efforts are being made to complete the last leg of the dam, raising height from 121.92 m to 138.68 m (and 141.21 m when the water is overflowing). |
| Keywords: | dams, sardar sarovar, financial, social, livelihoods, costs, benefits, displacements of people, India, Narmada, drining water, |
| Date: | 2009 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ess:wpaper:id:1983&r=cwa |
| By: | Keefer, Philip; Khemani, Stuti |
| Abstract: | The authors examine a unique public spending program that is proliferating across developing countries, the constituency development fund, to investigate when legislators exert more effort on behalf of their constituents. Using data from India, they find that legislator effort is significantly lower in constituencies where voters are more attached to political parties. They are also lower in constituencies that are reserved for members of socially disadvantaged groups (lower castes), specifically in those reserved constituencies that are candidate strongholds. This result is robust to controls for alternate explanations and implies that legislators pass on pork when voters are more attached to political parties or influenced by identity issues. These findings have implications for the evaluation of constituency development funds. They also provide a new answer to a central issue in political economy, the conditions under which legislators seek to"bring home the pork"to constituents, that attaches great importance to the role of political parties. |
| Keywords: | Parliamentary Government,Microfinance,Political Systems and Analysis,Politics and Government,Government Policies |
| Date: | 2009–05–01 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wbk:wbrwps:4929&r=cwa |
| By: | Anil K Gupta |
| Abstract: | Many developing countries have taken interest in learning from the Honey Bee Network experience for replicating the model. In a UNESCO conference, the author was asked to identify the key steps that national governments can take to deal with the challenge of developing an inclusive innovation based development model. Thus, the author has identified six steps which can help the leaders in various countries.[W.P. No. 2009-03-01] |
| Keywords: | indigenous knowledge; India; Global Knowledge Conference; Honey Bee Network; Ugandan National Council of Science and Technology; SRISTI; NIF |
| Date: | 2009 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ess:wpaper:id:1985&r=cwa |
| By: | Ban, Radu; Rao, Vijayendra |
| Abstract: | Deliberative decision-making processes are becoming increasingly important around the world to make important decisions about public and private goods allocation, but there is very little empirical evidence about how they actually work. In this paper the authors use data from India extracted from 131 transcripts of village meetings matched with data from household surveys conducted in the same villages prior to the meetings, to study whose preferences are reflected in the meetings. The meetings are constitutionally empowered to make decisions about public and private goods. The findings show that the more land a person owns, the higher the likelihood her preference is mentioned in the meeting, the longer the amount of time spent discussing this preference, and the higher the likelihood that a decision to provide or repair this public or private good is taken. At the same time, the voices of disadvantaged castes, while not dominating the meeting, are also heard. By contrast, the preferences of Muslims are given less time. High village literacy and the presence of higher level officials during village meetings mitigate the power of the landed, but political reservations for low castes for the post of village president increase the power of the landed. |
| Keywords: | Access to Finance,Social Accountability,Peri-Urban Communities,Rural Urban Linkages,Anthropology |
| Date: | 2009–05–01 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wbk:wbrwps:4928&r=cwa |
| By: | Pierre Chapelet |
| Abstract: | This paper introduces the setting up of a Geographical Information System on Delhi for studies in the Social Sciences. Through an explaination of their methodological procedure and demonstration of thematic applications focusing on the healthcare system's spatial organization, the authors lead us through the inherent difficulties of building a GIS in an emerging country like India. They also attempt to demonstrate that this kind of tool remains, however, a relevant support for research in the Social Sciences as long as it is used with care and knowledge of the dataset frame. From this perspective, Exploratory Data Analysis coupled with the play of scales provide powerful ways to assess socio-spatial dynamics taking place in the Indian capital. [CSH OP 11] |
| Keywords: | GIS; Social sciences; healthcare system; data exploratory analysis; multiscalar; Delhi, Census 1991/2001 |
| Date: | 2009 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ess:wpaper:id:1964&r=cwa |
| By: | Banerjee, Abhijit; Duflo, Esther; Ghatak, Maitreesh; Lafortune, Jeanne |
| Abstract: | This paper studies the role played by caste, education and other social and economic attributes in arranged marriages among middle-class Indians. We use a unique data set on individuals who placed matrimonial advertisements in a major newspaper, the responses they received, how they ranked them, and the eventual matches. We estimate the preferences for caste, education, beauty, and other attributes. We then compute a set of stable matches, which we compare to the actual matches that we observe in the data. We find the stable matches to be quite similar to the actual matches, suggesting a relatively frictionless marriage market. One of our key empirical findings is that there is a very strong preference for within-caste marriage. However, because both sides of the market share this preference and because the groups are fairly homogeneous in terms of the distribution of other attributes, in equilibrium, the cost of wanting to marry within-caste is low. This allows caste to remain a persistent feature of the Indian marriage market. |
| Keywords: | caste; Gale-Shapley Algorithm; marriage markets |
| JEL: | D10 J12 O12 |
| Date: | 2009–05 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:cpr:ceprdp:7300&r=cwa |
| By: | Jayanth R Varma |
| Abstract: | During the global financial turmoil of 2007 and 2008, no major derivative clearing house in the world encountered distress while many banks were pushed to the brink and beyond. An important reason for this is that derivative exchanges have avoided using value at risk, normal distributions and linear correlations. This is an important lesson. The global financial crisis has also taught us that in risk management, robustness is more important than sophistication and that it is dangerous to use models that are over calibrated to short time series of market prices. The paper applies these lessons to the important exchange traded derivatives in India and recommends major changes to the currentmargining systems to improve their robustness. It also discusses directions in which global best practices in exchange risk management could be improved to take advantage of recent advances in computing power and finance theory. The paper argues that risk management should evolve towards explicit models based on coherent risk measures (like expected shortfall), fat tailed distributions and non linear dependence structures (copulas).[W.P. No.2009-02-06] |
| Keywords: | Risk Management; Global Financial Crisis; Derivative Exchanges; Value at Risk; SPAN system; Coherent Risk Measures; Expected Shortfall; Robustness; Regime Switching; Risk Coverage Levels; Indian Derivative Markets; Stock Index Futures; Currency Derivatives |
| Date: | 2009 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ess:wpaper:id:1981&r=cwa |
| By: | Pami Dua |
| Abstract: | This paper investigates the determination of inflation in the framework of an open economy forward-looking as well as conventional backward-looking Phillips curve for eight Asian countries- Japan, Hong Kong, Korea, Singapore, Philippines, Thailand, China Mainland and India. Using Quarterly data and applying the instrumental variables estimation technique, it is found that the output gap is significant in explaining the inflation rate in almost all the countries. Furthermore, at least one measure of international competitiveness has a statistically significant influence on inflation in all the countries. The differences in the developed and developing world are highlighted by the significance of agriculture related supply shocks in determining inflation in the case of developing countries. For all countries, the forward-looking Phillips curve provides a better fit compared to the backward looking variant.[WP 178] |
| Keywords: | Inflation; Open Economy; Phillips Curve; Asian economies; inflation rate; supply shocks; monetary variables; demand factors; domestic factors; external factors; supply factors; devloping countries; developed countriesi |
| Date: | 2009 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ess:wpaper:id:1973&r=cwa |
| By: | G. Raghuram |
| Abstract: | The focus of this paper is on how Indian Railways can service the steel sector better. The steel sector is a core sector, with railways playing a critical role in its logistics. The paper examines the changing industry structure and brings to light the increased need for transportation, as compared to normal planning processes. Traditionally, crude and finished steel making was done in the same location by big producers having integrated plants. Now the industry has a large number of producers who primarily focus on crude steel making or finished steel making, necessitating the need for transporting crude steel to the finished steel makers. Even within finished steel making, there could be levels of value addition where the output of one finished steel maker could become the input for another. [ IIMA WP No 4] |
| Keywords: | steel sector; Indian Railways; Service; compounded annual growth rate; crude steel; National Steel Policy 2005; crude/liquid steel making; Slag; RINL; SAIL; Tata Steel; Essar Steel; Ispat Industries; JSW Steel; Ministry of Steel annual report; Iron ore; Fluxes; Rail Based Movement; Current Issues; Streamlined Movement; Bypasses and Flyovers; Wagon Loadability; BOXN wagons; Tariff Structure; Rake Availability |
| Date: | 2009 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ess:wpaper:id:1962&r=cwa |
| By: | Gordhan K Saini |
| Abstract: | This paper provides some important indicators of non-tariff measures in Indian textiles and clothing exports. The paper identifies major trading partners and HS codes to study the impact of Non Taiff Measures (NTMs) on Indian exports. F irst, using count measures i.e. frequency and coverage ratios, suggests that more than 60% of export value is affected by the NTMs in USA, EU-25 and Canada at various points in time. Second, it calculates Ad-Valorem Equivalents using price differential methods which are imposed in the SMART model under the partial equilibrium framework to know the trade impact of NTMs. A total trade loss of about billion 2.34 US$ (16.8% of base trade value) is estimated, while the zero tariff gains are roughly billion 1.36 US$ that’s 9.8% of base trade. Also this paper develops the framework for the primary research in the field of Non-Tariff Measures. [IGIDR WP NO 2] |
| Keywords: | "Non-Tariff Barriers; Ad-Valorem Equivalents of Non-Tariff Measures; Technical Measures to Trade; disguised protectionism; Exports; Textile & Clothing Sector |
| Date: | 2009 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ess:wpaper:id:1963&r=cwa |
| By: | D Subbarao |
| Abstract: | Speech is about the role of IT in the Indian financial sector [Keynote address at the Banking Technology Awards 2008 of the Institute for Development & Research in Banking Technology, Hyderabad]. |
| Keywords: | IT, information technology, financial sector, Indian, banking, ATMs, transaction, Payment, banks, electronic, RBI, |
| Date: | 2009 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ess:wpaper:id:1978&r=cwa |
| By: | Ankur Sarin |
| Abstract: | Using a survey of 1774 users and non-users in 84 slums in three metropolitan cities (Delhi, Ahmedabad and Kolkata), we try to understand the impact of mobiles on their social and economic lives. Urban slum dwellers spend significant amounts on communications, both for a first time acquisition of handset and SIM (nearly 40% of the average household earnings per month), as well as on going expenditure. However, a majority of respondents believe that the use of mobiles has led to an improvement in their economic situation and that these benefits are greater than ownership and usage costs. Mobile also appears to change how slum residents interact with each other. Despite reducing face-to-face interactions, mobile usage is associated with stronger social relationships. In comparing users and non-users, we find differences between users and non-users in terms of income, education and other social characteristics. We also find evidence of hierarchies within households, with women far more likely than men to be only infrequent mobile users or not to have access at all. While cost of a handset is the primary barrier to owning a mobile, non-owners report difficulty in using a mobile, clarity of charges for call-plans and information dissemination as other barriers to ownership.[W.P. No. 2009-02-05] |
| Keywords: | innovations; communication technologies; social impacts; slum; urban India; Research Design; Sample Design; Self-Employed; Regular Wage Activities; household disparities; Mobiles; cell phones; SIM; Productive Purposes; economic activities |
| Date: | 2009 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ess:wpaper:id:1984&r=cwa |
| By: | Deepa Menon Choudhary |
| Abstract: | The production, transportation and consumption of energy resources, especially of fossil fuels such as coal, oil and natural gas, generate negative environmental externalities including air pollution. The use of energy resources are the largest anthropogenic source of air pollution and the impacts are felt both at the global and local level. At the global level, emissions include greenhouse gases (GHGs) like carbon-dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) and the local pollutants include sulphur-dioxide (SO2), nitrogen-dioxide (NO2), suspended particulate matter (SPM) and carbon monoxide (CO). The GHG emissions cause global warming, which impacts agriculture and food security, natural ecosystems, human health, energy and industrial infrastructures, and coastal areas. In the case of local pollutants, their concentration in the ambient air reflects the air quality in an area. These concentrations, if exceeded, result in direct and immediate damaging impacts on human health and ecosystems, besides having other local and regional impacts such as acid rains.[CSH OP NO 12] |
| Keywords: | Energy; environment; policymaking; deteriorating; air quality; market-based instruments; power generation; coal; steel; cement; chemical; fertilizer; externalities; GHG emissions; SO2; air quality management; Mashelkar Committee; Public Interest Litigations; power sector; United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change; cost savings; Power; Planning Commission, 2002b; Industrial Policy Resolution; Electricity Supply Act, 1948; National Thermal Power Corporation |
| Date: | 2009 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ess:wpaper:id:1957&r=cwa |
| By: | Pandey, Manoj K. |
| Abstract: | The paper analyzes the effect of health status on labour force participation for aged Indians. The potential endogeneity in health and labour force participation has been taken care of by using full information maximum likelihood (FIML) and estimation results are compared with alternative two-stage methods. Results show that health has a significant and positive effect on labour force participation of the aged. In order to keep enough supply of elderly in the labour market, sufficient health care is necessary and hence more investment in this sector is imperative. |
| Keywords: | self-reported health status; labour force participation; elderly; endogeneity; exogeneity; simultaneous equation model |
| JEL: | J14 I18 J21 C35 |
| Date: | 2009–05–20 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:15394&r=cwa |
| By: | Wodon, Quentin; Morris, Michael; Glaesener, Vincent; Zoyem, Jean-Paul; Larbouret, Patricia; Moens, Marc; Dianga, Evalyne; Mdaye, Ba; Kavalec, Alexandre |
| Abstract: | Burundi is still experiencing a major food crisis. One important element that will help to avoid new episodes of violence is revised agricultural policies that support sustainable food security. Food crops and livestock supply 91 percent of agricultural GDP and the major livelihood for most households, thus it is essential to promote production and commercialization of subsistence crops and livestock. These subsectors currently perform poorly and foster a chronic food deficit, a condition that underlines the extreme vulnerability of the population to production-related risks. With food demand increasing at an annual rate of 3 to 6 percent, it is urgent to improve the contribution of the subsistence crops and livestock subsectors. The potential for improvement is great, and beyond the need for reforms that will benefit all sectors, improvements will require public investments to enhance productivity and better market access. Necessary changes in the short-run include fostering the use of high quality seed and fertilizer, and improving the management of small livestock. In the long run, research-extension links should be strengthened, producer organizations should be encouraged and supported, and sustainable land and water management practices should be promoted. Investments in infrastructure and market intelligence will need to meet demands generated by the development of urban centers and foster competitiveness of Burundian agricultural commodities relative to those from the region. This chapter explains the food security issue in Burundi and identifies priority actions that will help overcome the major obstacles that prevent growth and improvement of the subsistence crops and livestock subsectors. |
| Keywords: | Burundi; agriculture; food security |
| JEL: | O13 |
| Date: | 2008–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:15410&r=cwa |