ABSTRACT
This chapter indicates some of the problems of the commercialization strategy for rural Africa, which in the case of crop farmers, has ended up with 50 per cent in poverty. It reveals the problems with the strategy of 'leading farmer projects'. The chapter considers the way in which gender roles can have an impact on household food security. It examines the ways in which the policy settings developed by the Ugandan government, following mainstream models for development, have failed to come to grips with the real drivers of food insecurity in the rural economy. The chapter suggests some alternative approaches which could be more effective. It may be useful to explore the 'Plan for Modernisation'. Food security is considered in terms of access to food at individual and household level. The chapter argues that the barriers to successful food security projects are rooted in social systems that systematically disadvantage some sections of the community in accessing food.
