Modernization of Agriculture in Developing Countries

Until quite recently, agriculture in most developing countries of the Third World has been largely neglected by policy-makers, economists and planners, on the assumption that most resources should be devoted to industry. However, there is a growing realization that without progress in agriculture there will be economic stagnation, inadequate food production, and the vicious circle of poverty and low productivity will be perpetuated. The great hopes pinned on the 'Green Revolution' have only been partially realized, and any success is still confined to a fraction of the areas in need of development. Where the 'Green Revolution' has been successful, many problems have arisen in its wake - some being anticipated but others not - of which potentially the most explosive are the increasing gaps between various sectors in the rural population and between regions. An understanding of the complex economic, social, cultural and technological factors involved in agricultural development is a prerequisite for fruitful work in each of the many and diverse fields of activity concerned with changes in agriculture in the developing countries of the Third World.
The overall objective of this book is to give an up-to-date, comprehensive review of the experience gained in the process of modernizing agriculture in the developing countries, and in coping with the problems that arise following the adoption of the technologies. The book attempts to present this subject, which involves so many different professions and fields of study, in such a way as to provide each professional group with the necessary insights into the other fields relating to their own activities. The information contained in this book will therefore be useful to all those responsible for the development of agriculture at every level of research, policy-making and implementation.