BOOK REVIEW [1]

TITLE: Toward Eradicting Hunger and Poverty
Life and Work of Per Pinstrup-Andersen
AUTHOR: Compiled, Edited and Introduced by Anwar Dil
PUBLISHER: Intercultural Forum, 2003, pp 616
PRICE: US$ 40.00

REVIEWED BY: Ruth K. Oniang'o and Kennedy M. Shiundu

I feel most privileged to have been accorded the honor to review this book. I was there when the advance copies were available and so the copy that was given to me was "straight from the oven" so to speak. It is also right that I should be one of the reviewers because Per has inspired me during the 15 or so years I have known him. I have also noted that there is little reference to his work in Africa or, for Africans. Yet during his 10-year tenure at the helm of IFPRI, Per hosted many meetings which were attended by so many people from all over, including Africa. Of course I am disappointed that I was not invited to say something about him, in the book, at least on behalf of the so many Africans, both the poor and professionals, who have been helped by his work, IFPRI's research which was done under his stewardship, and his writings.

The book, due to be officially released in January 2003, is a detailed account of Per's life and work and covers some 615 pages which do include the glorifying comments on the cover page by Per's friends who too, are prominent.

These include Dr. Norman Borlaug, the 1970 Nobel Peace Laureate who describes Per as " an outstanding spokesperson for effective economic policies for transforming agricultural production of food deficit nations". Dr. Sartaj Aziz, Former Federal Minister of Agriculture and Foreign Affairs, Pakistan, describes the book as a most "befitting recognition of Pinstrup-Andersen's lifelong contributions to agricultural research and to international food policy".

Dr. Kenneth M. Quinn, President, The World Food Prize Foundation describes Per as " the intellectual architect of the great global effort to eliminate poverty, hunger and child malnutrition" and explains how through 'The 2020 Vision for Food, Agriculture and the Environment' he prophetically sounded an alarm at the possible and indeed probable relationship between poverty and terrorism.

Dr Ian Johnson, chair of CGIAR, Vice President, The World Bank, Washington D.C, describes Per as a "great thinker of great depth and of the highest quality" who is also a " doer with great effect and a global reach" and also has "influenced academics, agriculturists development professionals and policy makers in the North and in the South."

Dr. Geoff Miller, Distinguished Australian Economist, Chair, Board of Trustees, IFPRI comments: " I have worked for forty years in national and international public policy and business, in close association with many national and world leaders. I have never met Per Pinstrup-Andersen's equal, nor shall I, even if I live for another forty years (and become a centurian)!"

"With his soft but firmly spoken words, he has addressed the hunger problems in developing countries" and "in his lectures he combines his deep understanding of the issue with professionalism and humor, giving all of us something to think about" Dr. Bent Schmidt-Nielsen, Rector, The Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, Copenhagen, says.

"Whenever anyone has wanted to know the real facts concerning agricultural development and to have realistic, well documented projections and future trends, they have turned to Per Pinstrup-Andersen." Dr. Goshen Conway, President Rockefeller Foundation, New York.

The book is dedicated to Mr. John Ruan, a reknown philanthropist, a good human being, whose vision and generosity have helped Dr. Norman Borlaug, Nobel Prize Laureate also a son of Iowa, establish the World Food Prize.

The Foreword is by Dr. Jacques Diouf, Director General, FAO, Rome. The book is so well detailed, so compelling to read by the attractive set up, and so vivid in its unique description of Per's life and work that it is difficult for me to do justice to it by way of review. It is truly a must-read for all. I have met Per's beautiful wife Birgit and am also aware of the tragic passing away of their daughter in a London train crash. I have known that his vision, his intellect and his humility stand as tall as the man himself. But one thing I have not known is that he dropped out of school, in seventh grade to work on a farm, and it appears (as this is not clear in the book) that he studied independently for university entry.

Per has held leadership positions from the time he was a student, has earned honorary doctorates, has numerous academic awards, including one for his doctoral thesis and the list is simply endless!

The richness of the book compelled me to get a student intern attached to Rural Outreach Program, Mr. Kennedy Shiundu, to assist me in reviewing it.

I told him "Look, there could never be a better trainer for you than this book." This book has thus been reviewed by both of us.

Toward Eradicating Hunger and Poverty: "The life and work of Per Pinstrup-Andersen" is a well documented, one would call 'academic biography' of Dr. Pinstrup-Andersen, the winner of the 2001 World Food Prize award. Prof. Anwar Dil, the editor, has done a great deal of work to condense a massive 400 published manuscripts of Pinstrup-Andersen into a book that gives an insight into the tremendous contribution of Pinstrup-Andersen in alleviating food and nutrition insecurity in the world. The book commemorates the Laureate's winning of the 2001 World Food Prize award.

Per Pinstrup-Andersen was born 63 years ago on a farm in Halker, Denmark. His early life reflects much of what he actually aspired to become later in life. Between 1957-1969, Per Pinstrup-Andersen received successive degrees, B.Sc., M.Sc. and PhD in Agricultural Economics in Denmark and United States colleges. However, the book indicates that Pinstrup-Andersen did much of his outstanding research and writings at the International Food and Policy Research Program Institute (IFPRI), Washington, D.C in the United States, a fact that he confesses in some of his writings.

The book credits Pinstrup-Andersen with the phenomenal growth and influence of IFPRI in Food and Agricultural Policy at international level. Pinstrup-Andersen was at IFPRI from 1980-1987 and worked as Director of the Consumption and Distribution Policy Research Program for a 7- year term. However, he returned to IFPRI in 1992 from Cornell University in the United States where he had served as Professor of Food Economics and Director of the Cornell Food and Nutrition Policy Program. At IFPRI, he was appointed Director General of the Institute until 2002. During these ten years, he literally overhauled the Institute to become a leading think-tank and research organization on hunger and malnutrition issues. Above everything else, Pinstrup-Andersen's attention was focused on continuing upgrading of the quality of the research staff which now represents different regions of the world, notably from the developing countries with diversity of personal and professional background and training, relevant to research on food policy planning and implementation.

Key research projects completed during Pinstrup-Andersen's tenure as Director General of IFPRI, include: breeding staple crops for higher nutrition, improving the effectiveness of food for education programs and computer modeling through IFPRI's IMPACT computer system projections to determine the effects of government policies on child malnutrition and food security. The most important and visionary program Per envisioned and established, the Author adds, is "The 2020 Vision Initiative" which has been recognized to carry forward "The Green Revolution" accomplished by Dr. Norman Borlaug and his colleagues at CIMMYT, IRRI, and other centers of research and training.

Part I of the book endeavors to recap invaluable ideas Pinstrup-Andersen presents in his numerous writings and presentations, particularly focusing on policies and programs targeting food production, distribution and consumption among millions of the poor people in developing countries. Pinstrup-Andersen's major concern is his desire to influence policy formulation both at the global level and individual country level in developing countries to achieve the increasingly elusive goal of sustainable food security for the masses of poor people in the South. Indeed that has been his life-long aspiration.

Going through samples of his well-researched and clearly articulated arguments, one cannot fail to appreciate the intensity of Pinstrup-Andersen's devotion to addressing structural imbalances that characterize the critical issue of food production and distribution in the world today. In 1968, Pinstrup-Andersen noted that "the food problem is by no means a lack of productive capacity. The problem is basically one of disparity of food production and food availability between developed and developing countries". Pinstrup-Andersen suggests that as a temporary measure, efficient distribution mechanisms could address the problem. However, he adds that such a solution will not be sufficient over an extended period of time. Population control and markedly expanded agricultural production in the developing countries will be necessary.

The issue of environmental conservation while dealing with food insecurity among the rural poor in developing countries are some of the issues Pinstrup-Andersen addresses. He reiterates that the extent to which hunger, malnutrition, and exploitation of natural resources will continue into the future, depends on the action taken rather than on absolute resource constraints. He argues that extreme rural poverty leads to unstoppable use of natural resources, which in turn promotes additional rural poverty.

The book outlines and discusses in 35 chapters, the core issues covered in the writings and addresses of Pinstrup-Andersen. They range from the World Food Problem, Food Policy, Human Nutrition, and Fertility to such issues as how to Go Beyond Emergency Food Aid and Addressing the Underlying causes of Hunger in Afghanistan. Pinstrup-Andersen exhaustively gives the broader view of the food situation in developing countries, but still devotes time to discuss problems specific to particular world regions. For example, for sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), Pinstrup-Andersen describes an almost desperate situation:

"Food insecurity, hunger and malnutrition are widespread and increasing in SSA. Almost one-third of the pre-school children are malnourished, more than four million pre-school children die every year, mostly from nutrition related illness. Food insecurity and child nutrition will continue to deteriorate dramatically in the future unless special attention is taken to avoid it."

Pinstrup-Andersen stresses the need for increased and sustained support for SSA.

Pinstrup-Andersen takes a swipe at the developed countries for their inept approach to hunger and poverty in developing countries. He argues that extreme hunger is not just about food supply. It is also about the inability of poor people to buy food. Starvation can occur when food is available in the market;- times of plenty do not rule out famine. Famine, one of the principal emergencies to which western governments respond, is, Pinstrup-Andersen concedes, a "man- made" phenomenon. It can be avoided.

Other key areas, which we can mention in passing that Pinstrup-Andersen discusses with exceptional clarity, include the inter-connectivity of poverty, agricultural intensification, and the environment. He also presents a case on how to reshape India's Food and Agricultural policy to meet the challenges of globalization. On export crop production and malnutrition in developing countries, Pinstrup-Andersen emphasizes that export crop production is an important element of the development strategy of many of the poorest developing countries. He asserts that there is a strong link between food policy, human nutrition and fertility. Pinstrup-Andersen indicates that fertility as well as nutritional goals are best achieved through the design of policies which result in the largest self-sustained economic benefits for low-income households, and for the most disadvantaged within households, especially women and children.

Part II of the book presents the excerpts from contemporary evaluations of Pinstrup-Andersen's life and work in response to the author's request. The anecdotes help the reader to get an insight into the work, beliefs, ideas and the philosophy of Pinstrup-Andersen, who is described variously as a man of vision and action, steady and courageous, focused and humble. However, one would wish to capture the attributes and commitment of Pinstrup-Andersen in the words of Dr. Francisco J.B Reifschneider, Director, Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), Washington D.C: "Dr. Per Pinstrup-Andersen has made seminal contributions in the area of food policy research in developing countries, addressing one of the most compelling moral dilemmas of our time: the persistence of hunger in a world of plenty".