Chapter I


 the self-sufficiency ratio (SSR), the share of domestic production in total domestic use.
 excluding stock changes.

 Self-sufficiency in food as a development objective constitutes one of the main points of the
 strategy adopted by the African countries in the Lagos Plan of Action in 1980, though this
 has never been fully implemented. A number of African countries have, however, declared
 food self-sufficiency as a priority objective in their national plans.

 The concepts of food self-sufficiency and food security differ on two fundamental points:

 food self-sufficiency looks only at national production as the sole source of supply, while
 food security takes into account commercial imports and food aid as possible sources of
 commodity supply.

 food self-sufficiency refers only to domestically-produced food availability at the
 national level, food security brings in elements of stability of supply and access to food
 by the population;

 In other words, food self-sufficiency is linked to an overall perspective on development
 which emphasises the need for self-reliance, an auto-centric approach, whereas food security
 is consistent with a view of development which incorporates international specialisation and
 comparative advantage.

 The debate on this topic between economic theorists has been fierce, but from a pragmatic
 point of view, much depends on the situation of the specific country concerned. No one
 would suggest that Singapore or Hong Kong should take food self-sufficiency as a priority
objective. On the other hand, it has been recognized by the World Bank, amongst others, that
 India has considerably reduced its food insecurity through developing its domestic food
 production. Cereal production increased from 90 million tonnes in 1970 to 130 million in
 1985. To import this much additional grain would have cost $10,000 million per year. The
 World Bank concludes, "It is difficult to imagine developments that could have contributed
 as much to food security as those which have led to this rapid expansion of production."

 Those who believe that countries should develop international specialisation both within
 agriculture and as between agriculture and other sectors of the economy argue that failure to
 take advantage of comparative advantage means that the country will not fully exploit its
 productive potential. Box 1.4 argues that Egypt would be better off shifting resources out of
 wheat production.


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