Privatization and Deregulation: Needed Policy Reforms for Agribusiness Development

The contributions in this publication are an outcome of growing concerns around the world about the prevailing inefficiencies in agriculture and agribusiness and the need to improve productivity, profitability, and financial sustainability of agriculture and agribusiness by privatizing state- owned enterprises and eliminating unnecessary government regulations. It is in this context that an international symposium was organized on April 19-30, 1993, to address these policy concerns and thereby to improve the long-term prospects for productive and financially sustainable agriculture and agribusiness development. The policy issues addressed herein were identified in a series of discussions at IFDC and with the authors. The main objectives were to focus on analytical policy issues that accelerate the process of privatization and market deregulation of publicly owned and operated enterprises and to provide necessary operational guidelines for policy reforms. This publication is structured around four main topics: (1) the role of agribusiness in economic development; (2) possible approaches and guidelines for privatization and deregulation of agribusiness; (3)the necessary enabling policy environment for privatization and deregulation; and (4) selected case studies. The views expressed in this publication belong solely to the respective authors and should not be attributed to IFDC, World Bank, or other organizations represented. Readers should keep in mind that when authors refer to `current' or `present' situations, they generally mean 1992/93 unless otherwise specified.