Year of publication 1984

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Author John B. Mason;Nutrition Division

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Product type Book (stand-alone)

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Series title Nutrition in Agriculture

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Series number 0257-8476

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Edition 1

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Synopsis (short abstract) Project planners would agree •that, when decisions have to be taken on the design of agricultural and rural development projects, the underlying base of information is nearly always inadequate. The exact impact of the proposed investment or policies can rarely be predicted with accuracy and therefore judgement, based on experience, is used very widely. The impact of an agricultural project on food consumption levels and, secondarily, on nutritional status, is one of the most im portant effects that we would wish to be able to forecast. However, the completed research to date gives us only a few clues for predicting such impacts. Additional information pertinent to the project locality is nearly always needed. This information involves, ideally, an identification of those malnourished, by characteristics of age, sex, geographical location, income levels and other socio-economic factors and an identification of the causes of their malnutrition. The onus always exists to collect additional information in order to ensure greater confidence about the predicted effects of projects. But information collection has its own costs; it is time-consuming, whereas in the project itself decisions come up which cannot be delayed. Methods of data collection attuned to the needs of projects are not well developed. Surveys to collect data are often conducted by members of the academic community who are more interested in precision and methodolo gy (and future publication) than willing to improvise for the benefit of the project authorities and to meet abrupt deadlines.

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Language English

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