Tackling Household Food Insecurity: The Experience of Vietnam

This paper is a systematic review of the facts and figures related to the issues of food security in Vietnam. Based on a comprehensive definition of food security as “access by all people at all times to enough, nutritionally adequate, and safe food for an active and health life†(Kennedy 2002), it describes and analyzes food security in connection with poverty or macro policies, in order to identify and understand thoroughly the problems related to food security. It shows that poor households are, per se, food-insecure, and that policies which target rapid economic growth using a socioeconomic approach help alleviate poverty and food insecurity. Its findings mainly confirm that household food security─specifically issues concerning food safety, availability, access, adequacy, and vulnerability ─ is still a vital concern in Vietnam.

Tanzania : the limits to development from above

The people of Tanzania have been subjected to a development from above, often implemented by force by the colonial and post-colonial state and advocated by external donor agencies, the IMF and the World Bank. This has resulted in a state-dominated, externally dependent and undemocratic society. This book aims at documenting peasant's response to state intervention, built on a case study of Rufiji district in Tanzania.Contents: 1. Introduction -- PART 1: The Post-Colonial Model -- 2. The Emergence, Development and Breakdown of the Post-Colonial Model in Tanzania -- PART 2: State Intervention and Rural Production in Rufiji District -- 3. The History, Location and Features of Rufiji District -- 4. Physical Features and the Agricultural System -- 5. Non-Agricultural Production -- 6. Major Forms of State Intervention in Rural Production -- 7. Effects of State Intervention on Rural Production -- PART 3: Hydropower versus People: The Stiegler`s Gorge Project -- 8. State Intervention and Development Assistance; Evidence from the Stiegler´s Gorge Project -- PART 4: Structural Adjustment and Agricultural in Tanzania -- 9. Structural Adjustment and Agricultural since 1980 </p

The current Afro-optimism – A realistic image of Africa?

This chapter raises the question whether the current Afro-optimism can be considered a construction of a realistic image (situational) and a narrative (process) of Africa. It does so primarily by analyzing the 180 degree turn-around of the prestigious and influential magazine, The Economist, on Africa within the time span of a decade. In May 2000 the magazine claimed that Africa was a continent without hope, whereas in December 2011, Africa, according to The Economist, could be considered a continent of hopeful economies – where “the sun shines bright.” The chapter identifies and analyses the key editions of The Economist with reference to this complete turn-around on Africa. Three major pillars are identified in the analysis of The Economist in relation to the changes in Africa, (i) the economic pillar (economic growth, investments and trade), (ii) demographic change and (iii) conflict, governance and democratization. Within each pillar a presentation of The Economist’s description and analysis is put forward to be followed by critical reflections by the author. The presentations and reflections also have reference to the analysis/empirical studies on Africa by key research institutions. In the concluding reflections of the chapter, the importance of culture for the understanding of African change - only mentioned in passing by The Economist - is put forward through concrete examples. The findings are that the Afro-optimist images/narrative put forward by The Economist and others do not hold together even if analysed from within its own frame. The analysis of The Economist and the Afro-optimist narrative also shows that it becomes fragile when confronted with an understanding of Africa that integrates cultural perspectives. The Afro-optimist narrative of The Economist has been constructed within a limited knowledge and timeframe that has restricted a deeper understanding of Africa. The conclusion of the chapter is that the way The Economist has constructed its arguments for Africa-optimism has helped create a narrative that aims at legitimising the continued exploitation of Africa.

Farm implements for small-scale farmers in Tanzania

This insightful book deals with major issues related to hand- and ox-drawn farm implements for different farming systems and ecological areas in Tanzania. The study is concerned about ways and means to assist and improve critical activities of peasant farming in Tanzania.Contents: 1. Types of farm implements used in Tanzania -- 2. Introduction and development of new farm implements -- 3. Demand estimates -- 4. Local production and repair facilities for farm implements and ox-carts -- 5. Industrial production of farm implements -- 6. Distribution of farm implements in Tanzania </p

Tanzania in Transition : From Nyerere to Mkapa

This book is the first comprehensive contribution to understanding the character of important societal transitions in Tanzania during Benjamin Mkapa's presidency (1995- 2005). The analyses of the trajectory of these transitions are conducted against the background of the development model of Tanzanian's first president, Julius Nyerere (1961-1985), a model with lasting influence on the country. This approach enables an understanding of continuities and discontinuities in Tanzania over time in areas such as development strategy an ideology, agrarian-land, gender and forestry issues, economic liberalization, development assistance, corruption and political change. The period of Mkapa's presidency is particularly important because it represents the first phase of Tanzania's multi- party political system. Mkapa's government initially faced a gloomy economic situation. Although Mkapa's crusade against corruption lost direction, his presidency was characterised by relatively high growth rates and a stable macro-economy. Rural and agrarian transitions were dominated by diversification rather than productivity growth and transformation. Rural attitudes in favour of land markets emerged only slowly but formal land disputes showed more respect for women's rights. Some space emerged for widening local participation in forest management, but rural dynamics was mainly found in trading settlements feeding on economic liberalization and artisanal mining. The transitions documented and analysed of Mkapa's presidency, however, indicate only limited transformational change. Rural poverty is therefore likely to remain deep and the sustainability of economic development to be at risk in the future. Mkapa was, however, able to protect the legacy of peace and political stability of Nyerere, but there were nevertheless important challenges to the first multiparty elections and governance, and particularly in Zanzibar. The post- script (covering 2005 2010), indicates that the incumbent president, Jakaya Kikwete, has yet to prove that he can change this legacy of Mkapa. Co-published with the Nordic Africa Institute and the Sokoine University of Agriculture, the contributions to the eleven chapters of this book are evenly shared between Tanzanian, Nordic and other European researchers with a long-term commitment to Tanzanian development research. he book is dedicated to the youth of Tanzania

Introduction: A changing world and its consequences

With the end of the Cold War, the world seemed to move from a bipolar to a unipolar system, with the neoliberal West globally imposing its laws. However, it has been acknowledged that other actors, such as China, India and Brazil, have become increasingly influential, helping to lead to a new multipolarity at the global level. The question of what this emerging multipolarity means for Africa is important. Will Africa become crushed in a mounting struggle over raw materials and political hegemony between superpowers and fall victim to a new scramble for Africa? Or does this new historic juncture offer African countries and groups greater room for negotiation and manoeuvring, eventually leading to stronger democracy and enhanced growth? The chapters in this volume offer food for thought on how Africa’s engagements with the world are currently being reshaped and revalued, and, importantly—on whose terms

African Agriculture and The World Bank : Development or Impoverishment?

African smallholder family farming, the backbone of the continental economy throughout the colonial and early post-colonial period, has been destabilized and eroded over the past thirty years. Despite the World Bank’s poverty alleviation concerns, agrarian livelihoods continue to unravel under the impact of economic liberalization and global value chains. Can African smallholders bounce back and compete? The World Development Report 2008 argues they can and must. How realistic is this given the history of World Bank conditionality in Africa? This essay explores the productivity and welfare concerns of Africa’s smallholder farming population in the shadow of the World Bank.CONTENTS -- World Bank Policy and the WDR 2008 -- African Development Policies over the Last 25 Years Land Rights, Markets and Capital -- Institutional Supports for African Smallholder Agriculture -- African Rural Agency in Response to Global Market Pressures -- Reading Between the Lines of the WDR 2008: African Smallholders’ Rural Future</p

Biofuels, land grabbing and food security in Africa /

Examines the effects of large-scale biofuel production, seen as having a positive impact on African national economies and greenhouse gases. Finds negative implications as well, especially in developmental and environmental areas.Includes bibliographical references (p. 206-220) and index.Grabbing of African lands for energy and food : implications for land rights, food security and smallholders / Kjell Havnevik -- Biofuel governance : a matter of discursive and actor intermesh / Marie Widengård -- Peak oil and climate change : triggers of the drive for biofuel production / Rune Skarstein -- Attracting foreign direct investment in Africa in the context of land grabbing for biofuels and food security / Prosper B. Matondi and Patience Mutopo -- Smallholder-led transformation towards biofuel production in Ethiopia / Atakilte Beyene -- Biofuel, land and environmental issues : the case of SEKAB's biofuel plans in Tanzania / Kjell Havnevik and Hanne Haaland -- Agro-investments in Zimbabwe at a time of redistributive land reforms / Prosper B. Matondi -- Competition between biofuel and food? : evidence from a jatropha biodiesel project in Northern Ghana / Festus Boamah -- Conclusion : land grabbing, smallholder farmers and the meaning of agro-investor-driven agrarian change in Africa / Prosper B. Matondi, Kjell Havnevik and Atakilte Beyene.Examines the effects of large-scale biofuel production, seen as having a positive impact on African national economies and greenhouse gases. Finds negative implications as well, especially in developmental and environmental areas."Nordiska Afrikainstitutet = The Nordic Africa Institute.